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SKETCHES 



OF THE 



CITY OF DETROIT, 



i^.^r 



STATE OF MICHIGAN, 



PAST AND PRESENT 



1855. 



•'' o# was^' 




DETROIT: 

E. F. JOHNSTONE & CO., PRINTERS, ADVERTISER OFFICE. 
1855. 



^ 



M 






Entered according to an Act of Congress in the Clerk's Office of the Diftrii-t Court of the 
United States for the District of Michigan, by Robert E. Roberts. 



ol 



.p^7 



T/ic fvlJinnng iriff ^ilrfcftes of the hhtnry, ptcnniary condUion. resovrrpfi. an I prof frets rf the fttu of 
Detioit -covfl/cd from aiU/iejitic daia, v>Ul in part supply hiformatio7i fi'equeiUli/ soucjlil ofter. 



THE CITY — ITS HISTORY. 



The city of Detroit is situated on the north shore of the Detroit river or strait connecting 
Lakes Erie and >St. Clair. The river is the boundary line between Michigan and Canada 
West. The city is 18 miles east of Lake Erie, and 7 miles west of Lake St. Clair, 300 miles 
west of Buffalo, and .545 from Washington, in Latitude 42 degrees 19 minutes 53 seconds 
north, and Longitude West S2 dog. 58 sec. or from Washington west -5 deg 56 miu. 12 sec. 
Difference in time from Washington ?>?•• miu. 44 sec. New Y'ork city 34 min. 48 sec. 

The history of Detroit is most intimately connected with the history of the whole nortli- 
west, as its settlement dates among the first on the American continent Founded in the 
strife for sovereignity between the English and French governments, it became at an early 
day, a point of central influence, importance and action. No place in the United States, it 
has been observed, presents such a series of events, interesting in themselves, and permanently 
affecting as they occurred, its progress and prosperity. Five times its flag has been changed. 
First the lily of France floated over its fortress, then the red cross of England, and next the 
Btripes and stars of the United States, and then again the red cross, and lastly the stripes and 
and stai-s. 

Three ditferent sovereigns hai'e claimed its allegiance, and since it has been held by the 
United States its government has been thrice transferred ; twice it has been bcscigod by the 
Indians ; once captured in war, and once burnt to the ground. Fire has scathed it — the 
tomahawk, scalping knife, and war club have been let loose upon it in the hands of an 
unrelenting savage foe. It has been the scene of one surrender, of more than fifty pitched 
battles, and twelve horrid massacres. 

Tiie present site of the city ■« as occupied by Indian villages at the'period of the discovery 
of the country. In IGIO it was 6r.-;t visited by the French. The whole lake region from its 
discovery until 1762 was under the dominion of France. The legitimate settlement of the city 
was in 1701, at which time a fort called '■ Ponchartraiu" was erected. Its location was south 
of Jeffei-son Avenue and east of Shelby street, occupying a space of about 200 feet square, 
and recently while some workmen were e.Kcavating for the foundation to the improvements 
now being made to, and in rear of the JNIichigan Exchange, they came across some of the cedar 
pickets of the palisades whichencircled the fort. In 1749 emigrants were sent here fj-om Fr;uice 
at the expense of the government. Here in 1 (03 that daring warrior I'ontiac the great head 
of the Indian race at that period, entered upon a bold plan of driving every white man over 
the Alleghanies and destroying all the English posts in the north west, simultaneously on a 
fixed day. These consisted of thirteen -well garrisoned forts, stretching from Niagara and 
Pittsburgh all along the lakes to the Mississippi, and on the Wabash river. So secret were 



SKBTCHS8 OF THK CITr OF DBTROIT. 



bis plans, and so prompt was he in tlieir execution, tbat ten of these forts fell in a single day, 
and their inmates were massacred — but he himself met with a signal defeat at Detroit. Kurinc 
that year it was ceded to the British crown. In 1778 Fort Shelby was erected by the British 
commandant Major Ijb Noult, and called Fort Le Noult until after the war of 1H12, when it 
was named in honor of Governor Sliolby of Kentucky. It was located at the intorsection of 
Fort and Shelby streets, and was removed In 1827. In 17%, Captain Porter with a detach- 
ment of the American Army, under ticn. Wayne, entered the city and took possession of the 
fort, which had been previously evacuated by tlie Bi-itish, and hoisted the first Sag bearing the 
stripes and stars that ever floated in the Wolverine State. 

The ordinance of 1787 was then extended over this part of the north west territory which 
was governed by its first magistrate (ien. Arthur St. Clair. 

The fust Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Detroit was organized at the house of 
James Donaldson, under sanction of the (Jrand Lodge of Canada, Dec. 19lh, 1794, which was 
styled " Zion Lodge No. 10." James Donaldson was the first Vi'. M. 

The Territory of Michigan was formed in 1805, and William Hull was appointed the first 
Governor, with a judiciary, composed of Augustus B, AVoodward. James Griffin and Francis 
Bates, Judges, who organized a government at Detroit in July of that year. On the 11th of 
June previous, the town was almost entirely destroyed by fire, one house only remaining. 
Shortly after the catastrophe, an act of Congress was passed directing the governor and 
jnjges to lay out a new town including the site of the oue destroyed and ten thousand acres of 
adjacent land. 
In 1807 Judge Bates resigned amd James Witherall was appointed i» his place. 
In 1809 Rov. Oabrial Kichard. published the first newspaper printed in the city, styled the 
•• Jlicliigan Kssay or Imperial Observer:" .lames M. Miller, printer. 

January 19, 1811. At a meeting of the Governor and Judges, Angn.'itus B. Woodward 
on: of the Judges, himaclf clothed, completely in American manufactures, moved the following 
resolution. 

" Whcrea-s, the encouragement of American manufactures is a duty imposed o^i the good 
citizens of the United Htates, by the dictates of benevolence as well as by the injunctions 
of patriotism, and whereas the consumption of domestic manufactures is at the same time 
the most simple and most efficacious encouragement of them, and whereas it is at all times 
becoming that those who receive both honors and emoluments from the execution of pub- 
lic trusts, should exhibit themselves the foremost in examples of utility, tlierefore, Resolved, 
that it be respectfully and earnestly recommended by the Legislative authority of the TiTritory 
of Michigan, to all ofiiccre of this government, to appear clothed in articles the manufacture 
of the continent of North America at all times when eng:iged in the execution of any public 
duty, power or trust from and after the fourth day of July, 1813." 

Which was passed unanimously, and a copy thereof signed by the members and attested by 
the Secretary in order that it be deposited in the office of the Secretary of the Territory : 
And the Secretary to take such measures for the further publication and communication of 
the same as he may judge expedient" 

January 1812. At a meeting of the Governor and Judges, a committee to whom was 
referred a communication from the commissioners of internal navigation in the State of New 
York reported as follows : 

"Wheroafi, the commissioners of internal navigation in the State of New York, have 
addressed to the Governor and Judges of the Territory of .Michigan, a communication, relative 
to a canal in the State of New York which being coiusidered, Resolved utjanimoasly, that 
in the opinion of the undersigned the canal contemplated by the commissioners of internal 
navigation in the State of New York from Black Rock to Rome, would no. be so desirable 
as a canil around the cataract of Niagara, another by the falls of the Oswego." The report 
was adopted and at a subsequent meeting the Governor and Judges signed a letter addressed 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 



to <5'0v. Morris, Dewitt Clinton, William North, Thomas Eddy, Robert R. Livingston and 
Robert F«lton Ksquires, commissioners of internal navigation of the State of New York, 
enclosing a copy of the above resolution. 

Renben Atwater, acting Governor, A. B. Woodvpard and James WitheroU, Jadges, com- 
jjosed the meeting. 

Here that brave and magnanimous chief Tecumseh, the noblest of his race, " rose, 
reigned and fell." Tecumseh participated against us in all the conflicts, from the defeat 
of Harniar in 1790, to the battle of the Thames in 1813, where he lost his life, and left no 
spot or blemish on his honor or humanity. 

On the Kith of August, 1812, Detroit fell into the hands of the British. It was retaken 
by the American army in 1813, and the territorial government re-organized in the fall of th«: 
j"ear, by the appointment of Gen. Lewis Cass, as Governor, who immediately took up his resi- 
dence at Detroit, which has ever since been his home. 

The President of the United States, James Monroe, visited Detroit in the month of August, 
1817. Ilis arrival was celebrated by the firing of cannou, a public dinner and a gi-and illumi- 
nation of tliecity at night. He w;is on an excursion for personal observation, of the country, 
having passed through the New England states and visited various important points along 
the St. Lawrence, Lake Ontario, and Niagara river, to Buffalo, where he embarked for this city 
in a sail vessel, and insited various points upon Lake Erie. The citizens of Detroit presented 
him with a span of horses and carriage, with which he returned to Washington by land, visiting 
all important points in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Jlarylaiid. Mr. Monroe was the only Presi- 
dent of the United States who ever visited Detroit, during his official term. 

In 1817 John P. Sheldon published a newspaper styled the ''Detroit Gazette," which was the 
first successful newspaper printed in Michigan. 

With eveiy natural facility of becoming a place of importance, the condition of Detroit for 
many years depended on the precarious support afforded by the fur trade, the disbursment of 
public moneys while a military post, and the liberal appropriations by government for public 
objects. 

The impulse and effect produced by the settlement and cultivation of the surrounding country 
was wanting until about the year 1830, when emigration, which had previously been small, 
rapidly increased, and farms and small villages began to thicken along the lines of the turnpike 
roads which had been constructed by the general government. These were the Chicago, 
leading to Illinois : the Saginaw, to the head of Saginaw Bay, the Fort Gratiot to the foot'of 
Lai;e Huron, and the Grand River to Lake Michigan at the mouth of Grand River. 
DETROIT IN 1778 — Interesting Narrative. 

The compiler is indebted to Hon. Alexander D. Eraser, for the following very interesting 
sketch : 

The following narrative was taken down from the lips of James Jlay, Esq., my father-in- 
law, who died in January, 1829. He was an Englishman who came to this place when a 
young man, in 1778. He was Chief Justice of Common Pleas, established here immediately 
after General Wayne took possession of the country, under Jay's treaty ; was Colonel of Mi- 
litia, &c. When the American Flag was hauled down by order of Genl. Hull, in 1812, at the 
time of the surrender, he got possession of it, and kept it until Genl. Harrison arrived, when 
it was again hoisted. A. D, F. 

My Note Book, 1E2S. 

In the year 1778, after a passage of four days from Fort Erie, I arrived by the brig-of-war 
Genl. Gage, at the settlement of Detroit. No vessels at that time navigated upon the lakes, 
upon account of the revolutionary war which then raged, excepting those of His Majesty — 
not even the smallest craft had this permission. Previous to that time, but few vessels ever 
visited the lakes, and those very few and of an inferior class — indeed, no merchant vessel had 
as yet ploughed the waves of the lakes. 



6 SKETCHES OF THK CITY OF DETROIT. 



The old town of Detroit comprised within its limits that space between Mr. Palmer's store 
(Conant Block) and Copt Perkins' house, (near the Arsenal building.) and extended back as 
far a5 the public barn, anil in fionl w:is bordered by the Detroit river. It was an oblong 
square ; and covered about two acres in lenpth, and an acre and nhalfin breadth. It wassur- 
ronnded with oak and cedar pickets about fifteen feet long. The town had four gates, east, 
west, north aud south. Over the first three of these gates were block houses. Each of these 
had four guns, (six-pounders, each.) The first of these was in that space intervening between 
Palmer's shop, and Judge Door's housc,(opposito Ives" bank.) The west block-house was before 
the ground on which Capt. J'erkins' house now stands. The third blockhouse was at the 
north gate, which was iuside of a small bridge that is on the ro;id to the fort, and near the 
public magazine, Olr. Austin's house, Congress street.) There wore besides two six gun bat- 
teries fronting the river, and in a parallel direction with the blockhouses. There were 
four streets that run east and west ; the main street was twenty feet wide and the rest fifteen 
feet wide. There were three cross streets, running north and south, from ten to fifteen feet 
wide. At that time there was no fort, but there Wiis a citadel on the ground on which Per- 
kins' house now stands, (N. W. comer of Jclferson avenue and Wayne street.) the pump of 
which still remains there. The citadel was picketed in, and within it were erected barracks of 
wood, two stories high, sufficient to contain ten offices ; and there were barracks sufficient to 
contain from three to four hundred men : a provision store built of brick. There w:is also 
within the citadel an hospital and snard house. 

In the town of Detroit, in the year ITT'^, there were about sixty houses, most of them 
of one story high, and a few of them a story and a half ; but none of them were two stories. 
They were all of logs, some hewn and some round. There was also a building of a splendid 
appearance, called the King's Palace. It was two stories high. It was situated near the east 
gate, and .stood where Conant's now building (Beecher's store) now stands. The pump which 
now stands behind that building stood in the rear of the Government House. Attached to 
this house was a large garden extending towards the river, which contained many fruit trees. 
When I came here it wa.s occupied by Governor Hamilton, for whom it was built. He was 
the first Governor commisssioned here by the British Government, and was here abont three 
years before I came. There were four companies of thf Eishth PSegiment, two companies of 
Butler's Rangers, and one company of the Fourth IJogimcnt. The latter were uivler the 
command of Capt. Anbcy, the former under Capt. CaMiveil. unl Eighth Regiment command- 
ed by Major Levorault, who was also commanding officer of the post and it.i dependencies. 
All these constituted about 500 troops. There wu3 a guard-house near the west gate, and 
another near the Govornment House. Each of these guards consisted of twenty-four, and a 
subaltern officer, who mounted regularly every morning between nine and ten o'clock. Each 
of these guards furnished four sentinels who relieved every two hours There was also an 
officer of the day who did strict duty. All these gates were shut regularly at sun-set, and even 
wicket gates were shut at 9 o'clock regularly, and the keys wore delivered into the hands of the 
commanding officer. They were opened in the morning at sunrise. No Indian whatever, or 
sqnaw was permitted to enter the town wit h any in.slrnmcnt, such as a tomahawk, or even knife. 
It was a standing order that the Indians should deliver the.so before they were permitted 
to pass, into the hands of the sentinel, and they were restored when he relumed. No mor« 
than twenty-five Indians were allowed to idme into town at the .same lime — they were per- 
mitted to come in only at the east and west gates. At sunset the drum beat, and all the 
Indians were compelled to leave town instantly. It was alwajTi the signal; strict search was 
made by the soldiers that none might be concealod ; and if it was discovered that even a squaw 
WU.-I secreted but fur a night, severe reprehension was sure to follow. 

There was a Council House, for the purjiosc of holding council with the Indians. It wn.9 
near the waterside, rear of the Government House. There was n Uoman Catholic Church 
situated whore Puyno's brick bouse now stands, (near the Masonic Hall.) The Priest was 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 



then Peter Simple, an aged aud infirm man, and adjoining it was the Priest's house and bury- 
i ig-gronnd. The church was 60 by 40 feet, one story high, with two steeples and two bcUa. 

The population of the town was sixty families, in all about two hundred males and one 
hunderd females. They — the men — were chietly bachelors. There was not a marriage in 
the place for a number of years, until I broke the ice. Twenty of these persons were traders 
and kept retail stores. Of the population there were 30 Scotchmen, 4 Englishmen and 15 
Irishmen. 

The extent of the settlement up the Detroit Hirer reached about Hudson's House (now 
Fisher's) not a house above that place in this country, until you reached Miehilimackinac, 
where there was a small settlement B._low Detroit it was settled on the banks of the Kiver 
as far as Springwells, but not beyond that. These settlements were entirely confined to the 
bank of the River, and there was no settlement or improvement in any other part of this 
Territory than that in the immediate vicrnity of Detroit. These settlers were all French Ca- 
nadians, and the whole population of the settlomeiit, exclusive of the Military, might be about 
700 soul^f. It was at that time considered a journey to go from Springwells iato the other ex- 
tremity of the settlement. 

The Indian trade was then excellent. There was much public money then in circulation here, 
for the troops and the Js'avy Department, were then strong here. This post was established 
by the British to keep the Indians in check, of whom they were afraid; and this was the rea- 
son why the old town was built go compact, that it might in case of urgency be more able to de- 
fend it against the assaults of the Indians. The different tribes were Hurons, Wyandotts, Chip- 
pewas and Pottawattamies, Taways and the Moravians. Prequently between 3 and 500 of 
these could be seen at a time during the revolutionary war. The civil department consisted 
of two Justices of the Peace, one of these was the late Thomas Williams Esq, (father of the 
late Maj. Gen. John R. Williams) and the other was the (iovernor or Commanding officer, 
for the time. The Orderly Sergeant was the Constable. The justice kept the peace, and the 
commanding officer took cognizance of all cases under £10 York. For all sums above this, 
writs came from Montreal, addressed to Williams, who got his Baihff to e.xecnte them.. — 
In case of small debts, on a complaint to the Commanding officer, he sent his oiderly to tha 
debtor, requesting his immediate attendance before that officer. He would then hear the 
parties and make his determination accordingly. If against the defendant, he would order 
him instantly to pay the money, or send him to the Guard House until he complied, and 
some times would give a little time to pay; there was no process or costs iu these cases. If 
the debtor, however, had no property, the party was set at liberty. One Granchin owed 
me a debt. I complained to Gov. Hamilton, who sent for him. He came, and being asked 
if he had any thing to say against the debt, he said no. He then ordered him to give me 
an old negro wench in payment, and she served me twenty-five years. 

1779. — The Governor, getting tired of administering Justice, proposed to the merchants to 
establish a Court of Trustees with jurisdiction extending to ten pounds Halifax. Eighteen of 
these Trustees entered into a Bond that three of them should be a weekly Court in rotation, 
and that they sliould defend any appeal which might be taken to the Courts of Montreal. 
This court lasted for about eighteen months, and none ever appealed from it. It was consid- 
ered as a court of conscience. They had certain forms of process, — they rendered judgment, 
and issued executions. They had a constable and a Cleik, and imprisoned their prisouera ia 
the Guard House. 

Our goods were imported from Montreal. The only mode of conveyance wasby tho King's 
ship, who delivered them here free of freight. 

When an Indian committed a depredation on the Canadians they generally rose in a body, 
aud hung the Indian without any ceremony. The citizens depended principally for eatables on 
the Indians who supplied them with the cjuadrupeds of the forest. A milch cow was theu 



8 SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 

gcDcrallr sold fur one hundred dollars, and a pair of steers would sell for two hundred and 
fifty dollars. 

The circulating medium in the country consisted chiefly of paper money iitsued by the mer- 
chants, from a sixpence to twenty shillinfrs ami purported to be payable to the bearer. Perrais- 
sion was given by the Governor to strike olf so much money in sliiii jilasters as a person had 
property to redeem in that monlL The property was valued by appraisers, or a bond was 
given with security to redeem. On the day of payment, each trader exchanged with him who 
had his bills, and this was found to answer every purpose of trade, and seldom or ever any loss 
accrued from this modo of dealing. At this time the Indians used to sjjcar the fish, and sell 
them here for rum and whislvcy. 

The citiz-jni all lived then like one family, — had Detroit assemblies where ladies never went 
without being in their silks. The people dressed very richly. Assemblies were once a week, 
and sometimes ouce a fortnigliL Dining parties were frequent, and they drank thoir wine 
freely. 

UETROtT IN 1S05 -Before tbo Fire. 

The old town previous to the fire, occupied a site embraced within the following limits : 
Griswold St. on the east, and Cass street on the west, and extending from the river to Larned 
street, secured by a stockade on the west and east running from the river to Fort Shelby, 
( present north line of Congress street.) In rear of the fort was the Royul Military' garden, on 
the ea.st the Commanding Officers' Field, and east of the stockade on the bank of the river was 
the Xavy Garden. Where Woodward avenue now is, and between Woodbridgc and 
Atwater streets was ihe Navy Yard. The names of the streets in the old town were St. 
Louis, St. Ann, St Joseph, St. James, St. Honore and L'Erneau. The width of the widest 
(St. Ann) was but 20 feet, at either end of which were gates forming the only entrances into 
ihe city. A carriage way which was calleil Chemin du Ronde. encircled the town just inside 
the palisades. A large creek called '• River Savoyard ' bordered by low marshy grounds 
separated the high ridge upon whicli the old town was built, from the high grounds along the 
summit of which runs at present Fort street. This creek extended from the river near the 
lower line of the (Jass farm, along a line between Congress and Larned streets to Wooiiward 
avenue, and across Congress street and Micliigan avenue, into Fort street; thence ei^t along 
the line of Fort street. That part of the town not required for public use was subdivided 
into 59 lots. The names of freeholders in the old town were : Askin, Abbott, McDonald, 
McDougall, Meldrum, Parke, Grant, Chagrin, McGregor, Campau, McKea, Oadney, Macomb, 
Koe, Howard, Tremble, Spaikin, Leith, Wilhams, Ridley, Frazer, Haines, Dolson, Jayer, 
I/ofoy, Thebauld, Duhamel, St. Cosmo, Bclanger, LaFlcur, Cote, Scott, LaFoutaine, Bird, 
Starling, Andrews?, Ilarfoy and Ford. 

The destruction of the old town was so far fortunate that it led to the adoption of a plan 
better adapted to a city, such as Detroit has become. 

THE NRW TOWN. 

The site of the city is an elevation of aliout 30 fi-ct, along the river front, rising farther 
back to about GO feet, alTordingmnst perfect drainage, covering an area within its corporate 
limits of 33G8 acres, about ono-third of which is closely covered by buildings. These limits 
will probably be enlarged on the river front in each direction at the meeting of the next 
Legislature. 

The Governor and Judges who laid out the new town, seemed to anticipate the future 
importance of the city, and to their foresight, good taste and judgment, are we indebted for the 
reserves of the Grand Circus, Campus Marlius, Kast, West Centre and Capitol Parks, and 
the numerous wide avenues, from P20 to 200 feet in width. 

It is in contemplation now to soon embellish tho parks and cirousses with public fountains. 

Detroit was incorporated a city by an act of the Governor and Judges in ISl.'j, seven years 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 



9 



before Boston bore the name and privileges of a city, and the government was vested in five 
trustees. This act was suspended in 1824, by a new charter passed by the Legislative council, 
when the late Gen, John R. Williams, was chosen Mayor. 

Sec. 1, of the act of 1815 reads as follows : 

" Be it enacted, by the Governor and Judges of Michigan that so much of an -'Act to repeal 
all Acts of the parliament of England and of the parliament of Great Brittain within the Terri- 
tory of Michigan in the United States of America, and for other purposes" as repeals " An 
Act to incorporate the Town of Detroit " enacted by the Legislative Council and House of 
Representatives of the Xorth Western Territory, in General Assembly, approved at Chillicotlie 
on the eighteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 
two, be and the same are hereby repealed." Hon. Solomon Sibley, was chairman of the 
first Board of Trustees, and Thomas Rowland, Secretary. In 1816 the Board consisted of 
George McDougall, Abram Edwards, Oliver W. Miller, Peter J. Desnoyers and Stephen Mack. 
George McDougall chairman, and Thos. Rowland, Secretary. 

The first public market house was erected in 1816 by C.ipt. Benj. Woodworth, undor a 
contract with the Trustees, at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. It was built in the centre 
of AVoodward avenue, a little south of Jeflerson avenue, and covered a space of about 30 by 
70 feet, one story high, composed merely of a roof supported by posts, and enclosed with 
slats three inches apart, and served as a public whipping place until the law was repealed. The 
culprits were placed outside with their hands thrust through the slats and tied on the inside, 
when the officer would apply the lash on the bare hack of the victim. 

When Detroit was first incorporated as a city, the only road leading out of it was the one up 
and down the river. The mail was brought around the lake, through Ohio, on horseback, and 
when the road was very bad a man cairied it on his shoulders through the Black Swamp. 
The first line of carriages between Detroit and Ohio was established in 1827. 

Detroit is a port of entry, the commercial metropolis of the State of Michigan, and occupies 
a central position on the great chain of rivers and lakes two thousand miles in extent, and 
forming together the greatest body of inland navigable waters in the world. 

The following will show in a condensed form, estimates of the mean, length, breadth, depth, 
area and elevation of the Several bodies of water which compose the great chain. 









5 = 5 


a p ^ 




-.OU 
10' 
3.0 
240 
2(1 
2-10 
180 


au 
21) 
70 
80 
18 
40 
35 


yuu 

500 

liOO 

1000 

•M 

84 

SCO 

£0 


'87 
66 
578 
ST' 
670 
£68 
i3i 


3- UOU 




2U0I) 




12 .00 




20 400 


lytke St Ciair 


c60 




9,C0 1 




e,300 




940 







94,UI>U 



The location of the city is pleasant, commanding a fine view of the surrounding country, 
with Canada in the foreground, and of the river for miles above and below until intercepted 
by beautiful islands. It was originally ^selected by the natives of the forest with their usual 
sagacity, as a site for their villages, and was thus occupied before the Lake Country was 
discovered by Europeans two hundred and fortj'-five years ago, and for about ninety years after- 
wards, oruntil the year of our Lord 1701, when it was taken possession of by the French who 
erected " Fort Ponchartrain" for the purpose of establishing a fur trading post, and protect- 
ing the traders. 

TIinE'S CHANGES. 

The compiler of these sketches first visited this city in the spring of 1827, without any 
intention of permanently locating here, but a short residence suificed to render his attachment 
enduring, and it has ever since been his homo. Having never been from it more than a few 



10 



EK£TC11ES OF TUB CITY OF DETROIT. 



weeks at a time, visiting eastern cities, and at each successive retui-n be has bailed with 
delight his approach to the good old City of the Straits, up its beautirul river of the 
purest of water. There is no other de-lroil like it, with its elevated shores, lined with 
villages, villas, stately mansions, Frciich lanii-liousos, windmills, and pear trees of nioro 
than a century's growth; its broad strciiin deep and clear with no veto " sandbars" or " snako- 
head3"to intcrrvpt, and no fleet of "8103111 Tugs" and "Lighters" to aid navigation. 

Detroit in l'^27 was the only municipal corporation in the territory of Miibigan. It 
contained a population at that time of about two thou.sand souls, which was about one- 
tenth the population of the wliole territory, who were .settled along the I^akes and rivere, 
from Monroe to St. Clair, Mackinaw and Creen Bay; and but little was known of the 
interior of the territory, which v.-as for the most part a wildcri.ess of forest and prairie, 
though a few scattered settlements had been made in Waslitenaw and Oakland counties, 
with here and there a log house. A water flour mill had been erected a year or two previous 
atPonliac,by Col. Stephen Mack and Hon. Solomon Sibley, which was the first in Michigan. 

Tho city at that time wiis but little else than a military and fur-trading post. The 
inhabitants were princii)ully native French, though there were a number of families here 
from tho eastern States, but not mo.e timn a dozen from any foreign country. 

The buildings were mostly constructed of wood, one or two stories high, with steep roofs 
and dormer windows. Tho banks of the river within view of tho city wore studded with 
wind gi'ist mills, and flour was brought to tho city and sold only in sacks. Since that time 
great changes have taken place, and scarcely a vestage of tho old city remains. A great 
portion of tho then limits of the city, have been swept over by fire and re-built with substan- 
tial business buildings. 

Then the steam boat arrivals were three or lour a week, now there arc eight or ten a 
day. 

Then there were but three or four wharvoj at which vessels could unlade; now its docks 
Citena for moio than two miles. Then there were but two or throe turnpiko roads leading 
from the city, now there arc plank roads and railroads in every direction. 

Then a mail from the ea^t arrived once or twice a week, now we have three or four from 
the east daily, and tho telegraph wires extending in various direction.*!, permitting instant 
communication with far distant points. 

(The tolograph lino w^s completed to Detroit, and dispatches were received from the city 
of New York for the first time, .March 1st, IStS.) 

Then the fronts of tho residences of James Abbott, Col. Anderson, Gen Larncd, tho 
brothers Cote, Mrs. Deveram and Dr. Hard, situated on the west side of Woodwai'd avenue, 
between tho river and Congress street, were shaded by an almost continuous row of stalely 
trees. There was the old meat mmket in ^\■oodward avenue, below Jetl'erjon, and the old 
wooden Presbyterian church, corner of l.iarned street and Woodward avenue. The 
residence of Robert Smart, Esq., south of the Church, and at tho corner of AVoodward 
avenue and Woodbridgc street was the Godfrey House, nearly opposite was Smith's TuA-err. 
Whore the "National" now stands, there was a small yellow house in the centre of n 
largo potato lot and beyond was a vast common, tho Jail, whore Centre Park now is, 
tho Methodist Church a little to tho oast, ('lill's Tavern near the grand circus, (ion. Williams 
barn, and an occasional shantec. Tlie.'^o were oil that intercepted u view of tho forest 
beyond. 

In Judge Sibley's field, west of AVoodward avenue and north of the residence of Dr. 1 >unield, 
was a small Fort, called Fort Croghan. which had been thrown up by the citizens and mounted 
with a few pieces of artillery for the purpose of protecting the inhabitants against the incur, 
sions of the Indians, who came from the woods and drove ofl" cattle that were feeding on the 
commons and murdered llie inhabitants. 

On Jofi'erson avcnuo, west of AVoodwai-d, there were in tho first two blocks a number of 



SKETCHE3 OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 11 

small stores — interspersed with dwellings, and those extended to the lino of tho Cass farm 
just below Cass street. 

The " Cass Farm" was then a farm with but the farm-house, barns, &c., and an Indian 
store-house and distillery on the lower line, and an ox mill on the ri^er front. 

Tho first block in Jefferson Avo. oast of Woodward was occupied on either side by small 
stores, and on the N. W. corner of Bates street was the store and dwelling of Peter J. 
Desnoyer, Esq. On the south-oast corner the store and dwelling of Gen. J E. Williams, 
east of which was Pat. Palnier's tavern, and the residences of John Whipple, Judge Chipman 
and Barnabus Canipau, Esq., and on the corner tho Masonic Hall and Council House. 
Crossing Randolph street on tho site now occupied by tho "BidJle House" was the 
brick residence of Maj. John Biddlo — constructed by Governor Hull, in ISO", and it was the 
first brick house built in tho city, and next the rasidenoa of Hon. E. A. Brush ; opposite 
was the brick residence and extensive fruit garden of Judge Sibloy. On the north-west 
corner of Randolph street was the Bank of Jlichigan, formerly occupied by tho Detroit 
Bank, chartered in 1806 and broke in 1810, and west wore the residences of Major Kearsley, 
Dr. Brown and Thos. F. Knapp. All these are now gone, and witli the exception of the 
old arsenal and the residence of the late T. S Wendell, Jos. Campan's dwelling, and 
Smart and Dcsnoyer's stores, not a building remains along tho whole extent of Jefferson avc- 
eaue, which was existing in 1827. 

Jefferson avenue until about this time terminated at tho line of the Brush form, when it 
was opened up as far as Russell street, but with stern opposition from the owners of the farms. 
There were then no buildings to obstruct tho view of tho fields and woods beyond, 
from the avenue in tho vicinity of Brush street. The only road at the time to Hamtramck 
and Gross Point was on the river beach, to gain which from the avenue down Randolph 
street, you' passed the Steamboat Hotel, the principal tavern in the city, kept by Capt. 
Benj. Woodworth, brother of tho author of the " Old Oaken Bucket." Capt. W. emi- 
grated to this city in ISOG; and now resides at St. Clair. Nearly opposite tho botol was the 
residence of Dr. McCoskrey, uncle of the present worthy Episcopal Bishop of tlio diocese 
of Michigan. Doct. McC. came to Detroit witli Wayne's army in 1790, of which he 
was the surgeon. Turning from Randolph into Atwater st. on the south, was the Carding 
and Full Cloth Factory of Messrs. French & Eldred; and just beyond, at the foot of 
Brush street was the Smith Shop of Harvey Williams, in front of which Cho-minck, son of 
that notorious Indian Chief, Kish-ka-go killed an Indian. Kish-ka-go and son were 
arrested and lodged in Jail. Kish-ka-go supposed that he was detained for the murder of 
some white man, he having killed several, and he could not bo persuaded to the contrary, 
though informed of the fact by Col. Beaufait. His reply to the Col. was, " no the hats never 
forget.'' Kish-ka-go called himself tho " son of thunder." He sent a messenger to Saginaw 
with instructions to sumI<^ons his band together and hold a wa-bi-no to importune thunder, 
(his father,) to come and throw down the jail and liberate him, on a particular day he 
named. Tho Chief waited patiently and sullenly for tho day when he was to be liberated. 
The day came, but thunder did not, and ho committed suicide by taking poison furnished 
by his squaw. Che-miuck, escaped from the Jail and was not retaken. 

East of Randolph street, extending along the front of tho Brush, Beaubien, Moran, 
Rivard, Mullet, Gouin and Dequindre Farms were extensive old Pear Orchards of centurial 
trees — they having been transplanted there from that enchanted garden of Europe — " La 
belle France" — by the early French imigrants who brought the young trees with them. 
In front of these was a green lawn with a gentle slope to the beach of the river. 

Annually, in the month of June, thousands of Indians came from the Upper Lakes on 
their way to Maiden to receive presents from the British Government, who stopped and 
lined the beach with their birchen cauoes, and pitched their tents beneath the shade of 
these trees, 



12 



SKETCHES OF THE CITV OF DETROIT. 



On recalling to memory those old Pear trees, and the green lawn beneath and in front 
of thcra, the many pleasant hoars spent rambling there, eating of their delicious fi-uit, 
we contemplate with regret the changes; scarce half a dozen of the old trees remaining; 
the iron rails are stretched, and the fizing and rumbling of the iron horse is heard 
where they were. On turning down the river to the other line of the oity, and recalling 
the delightful promenade along the high banks of the river, which at this point formed a 
beautiful bay, across the fronts of the Cass, Jones, Forsyth, L.iBrossc, Baker and Wood- 
bridge farms, and sweeping down past the residences of Robert Abbott, and Judge May, 
and reflecting that this, too, has been sacrificed and leveled low. to accommodate commer- 
cial and niilwayfacihtics, still more does it cause one to regret that the .Star of Empire in its 
westward flight visited the City of the Straits. It m.akes ono almost sigh with the ancient 
habilans, at the remembrance of those times when tho city was visited by an occasional 
steamer to bear away the furs, fish and sugar brought hither in the birch canoe, from the 
lake country above, and wish for tho return of the good old days when the Indian canoe, 
French callash, carryall and charrette,were the only vehicles of conveyance. IJutfew of the 
buildings of that day now remain. The most compact part of the city was between Jeflereon 
avenue and the river, and the only buddings of that day now standing there, are Jos. Cam- 
pan's dwelling on Jefferson avenue, and the Hanks house on Bates street ; all the rest are 
gone, and tho most of tlioni wcro swept off by fire. 

On Woodward avenue the dwelling of John Owen Kgq. now occupied by John Webster as a 
hardware store, is the oidy ono remaining. Besides these, there is tho old farm house of 
Gen. Cass, which is now on tho north side of Larned street. The brick dwellings of 
Messrs. Jackson and Cooper, on Michigan avenue, the Academy near the water works 
office on Bates street, the Browning House farther up, tho Cathedral of St. Ann, and part 
of the Bishop's palace, since encircled by brick, the Al)bott house opposite, (which was 
on that s^pot when the town w.as destroyed by lire in 180."), and it is the only ono of that 
day, except the Moran farm house on AVoodhridgo street, now remaining in the limits of 
the city.) Tho Andre house on Randolph street, and the ono opposite occupied by the 
Catholic Sisters' School, and the dwelling of Mr.-s. McDonald, corner of Fort and Shelby sts., 
formerly tho quartere of tho commanding oflicors of Fort Shelby. 

Tho above, it is believed, aro the only buildings of ls'27 that now remain, except some 
that may have been re-built or re-modoled sn as not to be identified at this time. 

Fort Shelljy was removed in 1827 — 8, and the earth was used in filling up the embank- 
ment then being constructed along the whole water front of the city, by order of the 
authorities, the expense of which was assessed on the adjoining property. This was done 
as a sanitary measure, and tho health of tho city, which a year or two previous had been 
bad, was very much improved. 

IDAVORS. 

The following gentlemen have held the ofiice of Chief Magistrate of tho city, and wore 
olccted lus IVdlows: 

John R. Williams, elected in 1824 ; John R. Williams, 1825 ; Henry I. Hunt, 1826; John 
Biddle, 1827; John Biddio, 182S ; Jonathan Koai-sley, l<i20 ; John R. Williams, 1830; 
Marshall Chapin, 1831 ; Levi Cook, 183'-'; Marshall Chapin, 1833 ; Chaides C. Trowbridge, 
1834, resigned in August, and Andrew Mack elected to fill vacancy; Levi Cook, 1835; 
Levi Cook, 1836; Henry Hi>ward, 1837 ; .\ugustus S. Portor, 1838; resigned in the 
fall, and .\sher B. Bates. Recorder, acted; Do Garmo Jones, 1839; Zina Titchor, 1840; 
'/Ana Ditcher, 1841; Douglass Houghton, 1842: Zina Ditcher, 1813; John R.Williams, 1844; 
John R. Williams, 1845 ; John R. Williams, 1846 ; James A. Van Dyke, 1847 ; Frederick 
Bulil, 1848 ; Charles Howard, 184'J ; John Laduo, 1850; Zachariah Chandler, Is.M ; John 
H. Harmon, 1852 ; John H. Harmon, 1853; Oliver M. Hyde, 18.")4 and Hcnr)- l>c<lyard, '55- 



SKETCHES OF THB CIT? OF DETROIT. 13 

Their business or profession and term of service were as follows: 

John R. Williams, Merchant, ..-..- 6 terms 

Henry I. Hunt, do - 1 Jo 

John Biddle, Officer U. S. A., 2 do 

Jonathan Kcarsley, Officer U. S. A. - - - - - - 1 do 

Marshall Chapin, Physician, - - - - - - - 2 do 

Levi Cook, Merchant, - - - - - • * -3 do 

-C. C. Trowbridge, Banker, } ...-.-Ido 

Andrew Mack, seaman, ^ 

Henry Howard, Merchant - - - - - - -Ido 

Aun-ustus S. Porter, Lawyer, >_ _ _ __ _ _ jj^ 

Ashcr B. Bates, Lawyer, ^ 

De Garmo Jones, Merchant, - - - - - - -Ido 

Zina Pitcher, Physician, - - - - - - - 3 do 

Douglass Houghton, Physician, - - -- - - -Ido 

James A. Van Dyke, Lawyer, - - - - - - - Ido 

Frederick Buhl, Merchant, - - - - - - -Ido 

Charles Howard do - - - - - - - 1 do 

John Ladue, Tanner, - - - - - - - -Ido 

Zachariah Chandler, Merchant, - - - - - 1 do 

John H. Harmon. Printer, - ..-.-2 do 

Oliyer M. Hyde, Merchant, - - - - - - - Ido 

Henry Ledyard, Lawyer, - - - - - - - -Ido 

Henry I. Hunt died during his official term in '26, Marshall Chapin died in 1838, Douglass 
Houghton died in 1845, De Garmo Jones died in 184G, John Ladue died in lSr>4-, John R. 
WiUiams died in 1854, Andrew Mack died in 1854, and James A. Van Dyke died in 1855. 

John Biddle is now sojourning in France, Augustus S. Porter now resides at Black Rock, 
N. Y., Henry Howard in Buffiilo N. Y., and AsherB. Bates in Sandwich Islands. Jonathan 
Kearsley, Levi Cook, Charles C. Trowbridgo, Zina Pitcher, Frederick Buhl, Charles Howard, 
Zachariah Chandler, John H. Harmon, Oliver M. Hyde and Henry Ledyard, the present in- 
cumbent, all reside here. 

POPCr.ATION. 

The population of the city proper returned in the spring of 1354, as taken by .luthority of 
the State, was 40,373. A population of 3,000 reside in contiguous city suburbs, which for 
all business estimates should properly bo taken into account. 

A portion of the population are foreigners, many of whom are uneducated, and do not speak 
English at all. They regard the operation of the census as a preparatory process to tax 
them according to their numeration, and it is now known that the census taken was quite 
below the true number. A full census of the city and suburb population, which are substan- 
tially one, would have shown a population of from 47,000 to 50.000 souls. 

The population at the following periods, from 1820, was as follows: 

It 1820 it was 1,'<4? 

" ISSO <* 8,222— Incro^'-.e in 10 yrar?, _..7S0 

•^ 1540 " e.l02— " " " ...6,880 

"1850 " 21,019— " " " ...11917 

» 1854 " 40,373— " " 4 « ...19,354 

It will be seen that the population has doubled in the four years preceeding 1854, and 
the water assessment just made shows that the ratio of increase has not diminished during 
the past year. The assessor found five hundred and seventy-five families residing in the 
city more than there were one year ago. 



14 SKETCHES OF THE CITY OK DETROIT. 

: PROPERTY VAlitJATION. 

TtaeTilaation of reAlund p(*n«onnl property a<!~rKAPi) 'n tte cil.v n \^^i wa' 912 618,115 

ArtUf T dilTeence Wtw-en vilunli n for purpowi of laxioi? o- of trafiSc - 4,172,705 

A(l<1 for real and [ler-ional i>ro{crt7 of milroaUs bank", &c,, which pay a tax in groM to the, State of on4 

percent, on iheircnilul . 3,600,000 

AOdfor Church irop-rty not tii <1 l,<M)0,nOO 

Public I rt>i»frtv not laXL'd wa'fmorki* en(;luvhouf>«p, mil k-l«, public schoola, A:c. &Ca 500,tH'0 

Counly aLd Central t overnment buildings — 100 COO 

9:l,"t.o,8:.o 
The follov»irg^u5ine*8a1atVtics werp returtied with the ccnina in the wpnrg of 1854: 

The capital iDTes'pd in nianufHcturea wi'hin the <ttc proper in 1864 waa ...._. ,..fl.flRo,ifo 

Tlie pri'ductit of the pr*'ce»dlnc v^ar from mariufuctuien were 9 ',o|3 o- o 

llm talue of tncrchacdi e imi^ortcd in 1 5 ' lor the purpose (f -a.c was ,$i,4ii,T0J 

FUBI IC DISBl'RSEnENTS 1853-4. 

The disl ursfraentB for in-p-oveoieiilpand public pi]rpoK'-9ma''e in 1953 and '4 were, (excluding fractions) aa fo lows: 

City ■■xpcn-'i'iires -n 1 .'3 for tntercsl, aewcm, Sc SIST/iOT 

Cit) rxpendl reslu H4 foJ intenal, tewnn, rs),U4J 

" •< 1«^:) public ichuuU „ 0,4*8 

Citv exp'nd'turts -n IS-Vl (or public ^choo s. ..... .. . 10,' fl* 

State anu cuui.tv tax paid by city in 18Su and '4 6?,018 

Amount raised by general tni _ 53i(',C7: WIO.CTO 

Amount paid bv upecial rasecament in 1853 for f aviiip strret^ S r>l,710 

j^mouDt Laid bvaieca a.'«M(iiiU)eDt in 18 4 for pavmg fcl;eclfl 67 311 

1.9,0il 

Amount expended by Water Cotnniis.titnere for re-constrmting Water Works and contlDgenciea in 

nK...... 1'».687 

Auiouut I'Xptndcd (ur KDle purpose in 1854 i;o,',>71 $312 H59 

fit* dinburnementfl In two years- . . — ......... $7d],0u6 

Amount exjen ca by i>e1r'>it Gaa Light Company e largirgand extending their »0'ks d^ni gaame 

tioie ". 100,000 

Amount exprndtd n erecting honaet of publ c won^hip inuring the same time, a) follows: 

Stone Pr«b)terian Chu ch c a* i i. OO.'OO 

Hick '• " •• i>.OtiO 

Itiick '• " " .: <0.0 

Brick Congrciational " "■ Ijd.ooo 

$i,O.H).0 
Amnint of Water Loan iio.oia) 

Amour t drawn dieetly fr-m r a"urce« of cit'R*rB- Se01,y5ti 

Ad for tm'unt p.'ui uD aubfcription to Slo<k of Railroa la, Plankrtwda, and other publ'c Impr-TO- 
mtLt. f..r^ame tim- CfO.COO 

Shewing ainrut I actual y dubur-eil in the city from its own re owrces for public ptirpo^ea^to be $l.t>Jl,0.0 

TI;e amonnla expel dcd annu-illy for paying ttro ts, andutOT pu Ic imprOTt-meuta, tlus enlanrlng crriatly the 

value of^tr I erty, is 1ar;;c; but ii> not n.ore th: n is tUMiiiirdcd by the rapids grew h of the ci*y. A pub'Ic mvctii g 

hfldta-t p in,; citiVfr'neJ by Major' pjoc amatiou. Tot4.'d to laice by l.-tT t'le sum orSltl3,C00 f jr pub! c tnii>oTfnn'ntB 

the ptciteut y»nr. Th.s i« in a-.d.t on to the ccbt of javing, which will l>c at la-ilh-ilfa* mui-h lu^re, j-nl in y>aid 

by special asa-aaiucot, 

I.IAKII.ITIF.S. 

Tho city liabilities nrc : Bonds iluo in 18ii.i, f.'iS.COO: in 18,-,7, ?20,00n ; in IP.'ia i?">0,- 
000; in It-oO, 860,000; in ItCo, §£0,(00; in IbGO. €=10,019 ; in 1870, ie^27,92f); in 1^71, 
810,^20; in 1872, 8-100; in 1S73, $22,000 ; optional. es.dr.O ;— Total, ©317,632. These wero 
issiu'd for construction of the onciniil Water Woi'ks, I'ublit: Sinvci-s, City Ilall, Markets, 
iic. &c., tlio payment whereof is provitleil for hy the Common Council, and tho interest 
on whifh is i>aiil by iliicet annual tax. 

By a law of the Lrgislatuio of the iState, no further bontls for jiurposcs of city impiwo- 
mcnts can issue from tho Common Council, but all improvements thcroaftor to bo made 
must bo provided for and paid for by direct tax at tho time of construction. 
Z Tho law alFo requires a stated sum to be annually raised by tax, to go into a sinking 
fund pledged to the extinguishment of the public, debt. Siiico tho pass.tgo of tlio law, 
the Bum of 835,190 ;'.8 has been placed to tlic credit of the public debt. Tliis fund is com- 
puted to extinguish I ho above debt in seventeen years. 

The AVotcr Works liabilities aro; Bonds duo in ls73, $.'.0,000; in 1878. i»100,000; in 
1880, iJr.O.OOO; in 1883, 100,000; in 1885. 8100,000 ;in 1800, (?100,000 ;—Tot^il, 8500,000; 
^250,000 of which is now on hand to complete tho ro-construction of tho works. 

Total liabilities of city and water woiks 8817.C22. 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OP DETROIT. 15 

In 1836, tho total liubilitics of the city were only S8,495. 

Tlie present delit of the city has since been created for the construction of water works, 
sewers, paving, public markets, &c., &c., besides some things less useful which it is not 
necessary now to recall — let by-gones be by-goncB. 

The largest portion of the debt contracted, has been applied to public imprOTements, 
imperiously demanded by the public weal. The public sewers — which improved property 
checked disease, and so materially advanced the convenience of tho public — need no 

defense. 

The water-works — the noblest improvements of our city — upon which its protection 
from fire, its health, its convenience, its comfort, so much depends — are not too dear at 
any price, and which now will take care of tho liabilities properly belonging to them. 

Tho annual city tax has increased in ten years — from 1845 to 1855 — from $19,000 to 
$163,000. The purposes for which tho tax of the present year was levied, were as fol- 
lows : Payment of interest 823,367; sinking fund f 5,000: common schools 819,960; 
road ta.\ $8,000 ; contingent fund $19,601 ; general fund $23,757 ; fire department $4,- 
925; street lamps $1,000; general road fund $11,060; improvement of parks $1,200; 
sewers $38,960 ; site for Alms House $5 000; extension of market $2,1C0; payment on 
lot for city Hall $700 ; total $163,702. This sum, though large, was imperiously demanded 
in consequence of the rapid growth of the city and expansion of its improved limits, and 
was cheerfully votetl and paid by our citizens, with commendable finnness and patriotism, 
rather than add to tho public debt of the city, and they will continue to do so hereafter 
so long as it is necessary, for tho improvement, health and prosperity of tho city, and they 
are satisfied it is judiciously and honestly applied to tho objects tor which it is voted. The 
character and reputation of their city ihey prixe above all other considerations, and wOl 
never suffer them "to be tarnished. 

Tho current expenses of the city^in 1844-5 exclusive of interest paid, was $0,922 35, 

in the year 1854-5 they amounted, exclusive of interest and amount to sinking fund, to 

$106,519 94. 

IIOTEI/"'. 

The Hotels of Detroit are renowned f er comfort, neatness and excellence of their fare. 

There are forty-nine hotels in the city, of various grades, several of which, usually denomi- 
nated first class hotels, were designed ai.d erected expressly for that purpose, and are 
large and extensive edifices, constructed :n the most modern style with every modern 
improvement attached, affording to the sojourner eveiT comfort, convenience and luxury. 
There are also a number of largo taverns with extensive brick stiibles attached, designed 
and built expressly for the accommodation of faimers who come from a distance, bringing 
their produce to market with their own teams. 

ARCHITECTCaE. 

In the erection of buildings, our citizens have generally been more solicitous of utility 
than oinament. Still we can point the sti'anger to some of the handsomest and most 
classic structures of modem times. The three Presbyterian Curches, one of stone, the 
others of brick, covered with mastic, and the Congregational Church, of brick and mastic, 
recently erected, are highly ornate, both exterior and interior, and almost stupenduously 
magnificent. 

Besides these there are the Odd Fellows Hall, Fireraens' Hall, Young ilens' Hall, 
Masonic Hall, U. S. Court House, Peninsular Bank, Savings Bank, St. Pauls Church, 
Mariners Church, Cathedral of St. Foter and St. Pauls, and 1st Methodist and Unitarian 
Chui'ches and whole blocks of stores, which are fine specimens of architecture. There 
are also a number of private dwellings which are as fine specimens of the sublime art as 
any western city can boast of. 

The Marine Hospital and Custom House and Post Office buildings soon to be erected 
by the General Government, and the Alms House and City Hall to be erected by tho 
city, will be material acquisitions to our public buiklings, and display of architecture. 



16 SKBTCBBa or THE CITT OP DETROIT. 

PIBI>IC UROl'ND>. 

The wide avenues and public parks and squares of Detroit, are evidences and enduring 
monuments of the wisdom, good taste and judgement of tho Governor and Jud<;es who 
devised and adopted the plan of the city, and elicit tho enthusiastic commendation of 
strangers who visit us. which besides being adornments of an attractive character, are of 
vast utility in ventilating tho city, and rendering it more Salubrious, and in arresting tho 
spread of fires. Tho Governor and Judges who adopted tho plan, were as follows: 

William Hull, Governor, Augustus B. Woodward, James WitheroU and James Griffen, 
Judges. 

The original plans were drawn in sections — 12 in number, and each section signed 
by William IIuU, Governor, and Peter Audrian, Secretary. Tho plan was designed and 
proposed by Judge Woodward and is conmionly called " Woodward's plan" and it is fit 
and due to his memory that the most prominent ]mblic ground should bear his name, it 
is therefore proposed that Grand Circus, which is now divided into two parks, be by tho 
Common Council hereafter designated by the name of " \Voodward Parks." 

Campus Martins, which is crossed by Woodward avenue, is COO feet long and 250 feet 
■wide, in the centre of which a fountain is to be placed at some future day. 

The city has recently purchased from tho State a largo lot, on the west side of 
the square, with a front of 260 feet on Griswold street, for a site for the proposed City 
Hall, and on the east of tho square is the Public Market extending down the centre of 
Michigan avenue, which avonuo is 200 feet wide. 

The Grand Circus which is also crossed in tho centre by Woodward avenue, is a half 
circle, 500 feet across on Woodward avenue and 1000 feet on Adams avenue, on either 
side of Woodward avenue the grounds arc enclosed, and set with trees, forming two 
parks. The water has been lately introduced into the centre of each of these, preparatory 
to tho erection of fountains, which are to bo immediately added, and tho walks made 
agreeably to the beautiful plan which has been adopted, when the grounds will bo thrown 
open to the public. 

Centre Park is situated on the north side of State street, between Farrar and Farmer 
streets, and has a front on State street of 212 feet. It is enclosed and trees set, and is 
soon to be embellished with a fountain. 

Capitol Park is situated on the north side of State street, between Griswold and 
Rowland sts, and has a front on State street of 1G8 feet. Tl-.is park is enclosed; in tho 
centre of which is tho old State Capitol building, occupied by one of the Public Union 
Schools. 

Besides the foregoing there is the oast Park, surrounded by Farmer, Randolph and 
Bates sts., forming a triangle, with a front of ICG feet on either street, which is enclosed 
and trees set. and a fountain is now being placed in the centre. 

Tho west Park is triangular, surrouuJed by State, Park and Palmer streets, with 
a front on State street of 1G8 feet. This Park has for many years been occupied by ono 
of tho Public School Houses, which is now to bo removed, tho ground enclosed and em- 
bellished with trees and a fountain. 

North Park is triangular, surrounded by Randolph, Grand River and Centre streets 
with a front on Centre street of 80 feet ; Crawford Park, at crossing of Fifth and Orchard 
street, is oblong, 140 by 114; Elton Park at crossing of Fifth and Oak street is oblong, 140 
by 214 feet 

Besides the Park.f, Washington avenue extending from Michigan avenue to tho Grand 
Circus 1400 feet, is 200 feel in width, which is wide enough to admit of being parked 
100 feet in the centre, and still leave ample carriage way on either side and also Madison 
avonuo of the same width, extending from Randolph street to the Grand I'ircus 700 feet. 



200 


feet. 


120 


feet. 


CO 


feet. 


200 


feet. 


120 


feet. 


1-20 


feet. 


120 


foot. 


120 


feet. 


200 


feet. 


100 


feet 


100 


feet. 



SKETCHES OP THE CITY OP DETROIT. 17 

ShouW tbeso two avenues be parked in the centre as proposed, they will, in connection 
with the Grand Circus, form a continuous grand promenade, of more than half a niilo 
iu e.Ytcnt, from Michigan avenue to Randolph street. 

A move has recently been made by our Common Council, to purchase a beautiful 
erove, embracing many acres of land on the WooJbridge farm, adjoining the west line of 
the city, north of Michigan avenue. 

'VI'U>riI Of AVEKUE', 
Washington Avenue, ..---., 

JcfTcrson Avenue, ..----- 

Adams Avenue, -------- 

Madison Avenue, - - 

Monroe Avenue, ...----- 

Woodward Avenue, ------- 

Miami Avenue, ..----^, 

Macomb Avenue, - - - - - - ■> 

East Michigan Avenue, ------- 

West Michigan Avenue, -..-.. 

Cass Avenue, ....---. 

Five of which bear the names of the five Presidents of the United States, who had occujiied 
the chair, previous to the adoption of the plan , and their statues placed at the head of each 
of the avenues bearing their names rPspectively, would be an appropriate embellishment, and 
it is also suggested that the name of Campus Martius be changed to ■' Cass Square," and 
that a Statue of Gten. Cass be placed there. The streets are generally from 50 to 80 feet 

wide. 

niKRCANTiLi:. 

Detroit, from its first settlement in 1701, Las ranked first as a commercial point on the 
western Lakes. A company styled the " Company of the Colony of Canada," was incorpo- 
rated by the Colony of Canada at a Convention held at Quebec, Oct. 31, 1701, which conferred 
upon thorn the right "to trade at Detroit iu beaver and other peltries to the entire exclusion 
of all private individuals." 

M. de La Motte Cadillac, the first commandant at Detroit who was commissioned by Louis 
XIV., in a letter to Count Ponchartrian in 1703, says, that his design in projecting the 
establishment of a trading post here in 1701, was to afford protection to commerce, since fl'om 
this place we can go by canoe to all the nations that are around the lakes ; it is a door. 
by which one can go in and out to trade with all our allies. And we find that Ch»?lavoix, 
a French Jesuit Missionary who visited this city as early as 1720, speaks of a complaint 
that the English merchants sell merchandize to the savages cheaper than the French do, 
thereby drawing all the trade to New York. 

In 1787, that patriarch native citizen among ns, who was born just after the closa cf the 
Pontine war, .Toscph Campau, Esq., actively engaged in the mercantile business here, and 
continued in it for about forty years. In early times ho annually visited the city of Montreal, 
conveying in birch bark canoes cargoes of furs, &c., and returning with them &,eighted with 
goods. 

Mr. Campau for many years had two stores, one where his present rssidense is, then the 
south side of St. Ann street, and the other on the river, a few rods above Laduo & Eldreds 
tannery. The old building was torn down a few weeks since. 

The late Barnabus Campau, Esq., his bi-other, and the late Gen, J. R. Williams, his 
nephew, were for many years employed by him as clerks, both of whom subsequently wei'e 
engaged for many years in the mercantile business on their own account, aud as well as 
Mr. J. Campau, accumulated large fortunes. It was not until about the year 1799 that any 
American merchants estabUshed thomselves here. 
2 



18 SKETCHES OF THE CITV OK DKTROIT. 

In 1615 th'jre wore five or six merchants hero, who imported their goods from the east, 
among vhom wore our estimuble and enterprising citizen, Shubuel CouaDt, Esq, and the 
venerable Joseph Campau, Esq., who aio the only ones of that time now residents among na. 

Tho books of Messrs. Mack & Conant, in possession of David Cooper, Esq., show that this 
firm iniportcil their dry goods Tom England in I8I8. The following price currant for 
I8O8 is made up from the account books of Thomas Emci-son & Co., Merchants, hero at 
that time, which aro also in possession of Mr. Cooper, who at that time was in tho com- 
pany's employ as book keeper. 

Tea per lb. 16s. ; Loaf Sugar per lb. 3s. 6d. ; Brown Sugar per lb. 2s. Gd ; Yellow Soap 
per lb. .3s. 6d.; Tallow Candles per lb. 46.; Coffee per lb. -Is.; Pepper per lb. as.; Cheese 
per lb. 2s.; Butler per lb. 2s.; AVhiskey per gall. 8s.; Boots per pair 610.; Paper per quire 
4s.; British Shirting per yard 6s. Furs — Raccoon 2s. Cd.; Fox 2s. Gd.; Otter 20s.; Mink 
3s.; Cat 2s. 6.; Mu-krat 2s. 6.; Beaver 2-13. Oats per bushel 4 ; Corn 6s. Flour per bbl. 
448. This firm shipped that year a largo lot of flour to Fort 'Wayne, and paid 288. per 
barrel, transportation on tho same. 

There arc at this tiiuo three hundred and thirty-five stores of various kinds in the city. 
The stocks of merchandize formerly kept, were very much raised, consisting of staple and 
fancy dry goods, groceries, iron and nails, cr.ickery, hardware, leather, boots and shoes, hats 
and c.ips, clothing, &c., &c., "country stock." 

But within a few years past business has become thoroughly divided, and we now have oar 
exclusive dry goods stores. Carpet stores, grocery stores, drugs and medicine stores, iron 
stores, hardware stores, crockery stores, leather stores, boot and shoe stores, hat, cap and 
fur stores, book stares, agricultural implements and seed stores, tea stores, wine and liquor 
stores, furniture stores, &c., &c., several of which confine themselves exclusively to the 
wholesale jobbing business. 

Some of tho dry goods stores aro not equalled in the west, and excelled only by few in 
the east, in the beauty and magnificence of their buildings, in their internal arrangements; in 
the extent of stocks or amount of sales. 

AVith tlio hopo that it will not be ci)nsi(lcred invidinns whore there .nro so many extensive 
and well arranged dry goods, carp' d fumishuig houses, the following description of one 
is ventured : 

The ittorc has a free ?tono front, is four stories high, occupies a front o( fifty feet, and 
extending in depth one hundred feet, comprising ten rooms, each twenty-five feet in wid'h 
and ono hundred feet in dppt'.i. iriviiig nn area of 2">,0(lO squaro foot, all of which are filled 
to their utmost capacity with fireign and domestic dry goods, carpets, cloths, millinery and 
clothing, — in addition to which the firm occupy a sloro-houso in tho rear. The retail 
rooms are four in numlier, finished in the most gorgeous style. About throe hundred gas 
lights are required to liglitthe several apartments. From sixty to seventy-five salesmen and 
from one hundred to one hundred and fifty persons altogether aro employed in the several 
departments, and including those outside, seamstei-s and searaslres?e.s, the firm give employ- 
ment to about six hundred persons. Their invoices of merch.indzj imported duritg tho 
year 1854 amounted to more than seven hundred thousand dollars. 

This store was recently refitted and opened for the fall trade, with an invoice of goods 
amounting to over four hundred thousand dollars. 

This is beleived to be tho most extensive and best arranged dry goods store in the United 
States, outside of New York. 

Bo.'ides tho numerous extensive dry goods and c.irpet ami fimiishing stores, there are 
several grocery, hard ware, crockery, furniture, hat, cap and fur, boot and shoe and clothing 
stores, some of which comprise five rooms, twenty-five feet in width and two hundred feot 
in depth. 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 19 

GOiaitEacE xv issj. 

Tho shipments from this poi't, by the Lakes aud Canada Railway alone, during the 
year 18j4, wero in round numbers as follows : 337,000 barrels of flour, 897,000 bushels 
wheat, 587,0QO bushels corn, 5000 bushels rye, 2,500 bushels barley, 228,000 bushels oats, 
1,800 barrels, and 1000 bags corn meal, 2,200 bags feed, 1,300 bags shorts, 40 bags buck- 
wheat flour, 300 malt, 3000 bags and 4S0 bbls clover & grass seed, 380 bbls& 230 bags beans, 
20 barrels peas, 194,500 bushels potatoes, 17,000 bushels turnips, 1,200 bushels onions, 
24,600 barrels pork, 18,600 barrels fish, 4,700 barrels beef, 4,60 barrels tallow, 6,000 ban-els, 
and 226 kegs lard, 70 bai-rels and 2,300 kegs and firkins butter, 550 barrels eggs, 780 boxes 
and 38 casks cheese, 2,200 barrels and 157 sacks dried fruit, 340 banels cranberries, 2,400 
barrels and 73 sacks green apples, 27 barrels pickles, 230 barrels saur kraut, 300 barrels 
vinegai-, 3,800 barrels beer, 7,GS0 casks highwines, 136 hogsheads and 1,193 barrels sugar, 
460 barrels molasses, 2,3S0 packages tobacco, 870 kegs nails, 2,300 roils leather, 17,000 
hides, 1,600 bundles skins, 520 packs furs, 500 barrels oil, 1,900 casks ashes, 4,000 barrels 
water lime, 300 barrels plaster, 50 barrels cement, 9,500 barrels, and 1,900 bags salt, 62 bar- 
rels crackers, 117 barrels s.ilts, 65 barrels sala^ratus, 1,000 barrels and 8 casks bees-wax, 
50 packages and 30 tons g:ame, 150 packs horns, 200 bales hair, 460 bales hemp, 39 bah's 
ginseng, 380 bales broom corn, 570 fruit and ornamental trees, 100 horse rakes, 300 
stoves, 300 wheelbarrows, 70 carriages and wagons, 27 steam engines, 1000 empty half- 
barrels, 8,500 dressed hogs, 80 dressed sheep, 9000 hams and shouldere, 480 tons iron, 240 
tons hay, 1,500 live hogs, 7,000 head cattle, 3,000 head sheep, 22 horse?, 559,000 lbs rags, 
2,000,000 lbs wool, 119,000 lbs coal, 559 M staves, 4.600 M shingles, 9,000,000 pieces lath, 
20,000,000 feet luEnber, 940 tons ingot copper, and 14.000 tons un3pecifio<l merchandize. 

Thi.?, exclusive of the amount distributed by other modes of transportation, such as tho 
Michigan Central, and Detroit and Milwaukee Eailreads, and other land carriage. In 
tho single article of stoves, stated above at the numlser of 300, the real total was actually 
over 5000. 

Tho receipts of general merchandize for tbeusoof the city during the year, wss 36.233 
tons. In addition, there was also received, 99.000 barrels and 86,000 bags salt, 15,000 
barrels water lime, 60 barrels stucco lime, 300 barrels cement, 15,500 barrels plaster, 330 
tons crude plaster, 1000 tons pig iron, 740 tons railroad iron, 2,500 tons coal 5,100 M 
shingles, 2.400,000 pieces lath, 10,000,000 feet lumber, 80 tons hemp and 25 tons flax, (man- 
ufactured hero into rope,) a conrignment of furs dii'ect from Russia, (invoiced at $2,200,) 
1.400 tons copper ore, which, after being smelted here, yielded 946 tons pure ingot copper, 
equal to 66 per cent. ; and pine logs manufactured at the mills here into 36,000,000 feet 

of lumber, and 14,000,000 lath. 

Number. Tonnage. 

The arriTale of .\raer'caa Tes5^e'.s in thp coist'ng Irale in 1^.'j4, were.. 2.290 1,006.880 

Of Foreien »eBR?Is _._ _. __ , 123 3;,RI0 

American vtsgels from foreign jioits, 'zl 4,S04 

Totals, 2, 34 1.04S494 



The cleirarces of .imiican vessels emnlojed in the coasting trade were- .» 2,394 l,*J'i0.893 

Of foreijrn vea^els -. - 1 37,V8Q 

Of American ves el., tb.-eign ^orts, „ -• '2i 6,459 

TotaLs, 2,.i.54 ],L>44,137 



T)ie value of ^00 '8 ira-ortett in Antrican vess-ls was 9'^6MS5 

Of goods imported in foreign vcs^o's, 27.7-1 

Total, .51014,706 



The ftmomt of duti b ob n'erch^ndizeimpor'ed w.afl, $111,3^8 

1 he value of exports of do T)esticp.'-odu e to foreign fots n Amfricao vesfielp, wa? __ 118, 01 

The value ofexpoi-ta of domestic produce to foreign pDr:s m fortigu vessels was 79,333 

Total, §199,6.'i2 

The value if loieign goods esjorted was ,.. 66,135 

Total of exports, Si4-5,787 



20 SKBTCHB8 OF THB CITY OF DETROIT. 

The weight of niorcliamlizc of all kinds received at this imrt duriiin; the year, was oiio 
hundred and twenty-six thousand, seven hundred and ci;;hty-eme tons. 

The number of passengers carried through the city by Michigan Central Railroad during 
tho year 1854 was 451,689. 

M AMFACTORI E". 

It is not intended under this head to exhibit a complete view of Detroit Manufactories, 
giving facts and figures iu detail, they not being at hand. But some of tho departments of 
trade and industry are enumerated and sufficient to establish the fact that Detroit is a manu- 
facturing, as well as a commercial city. 

There are, within tho city limit.s, 4G stationary steam engineg; most of which are used 
in manufacturing establishments of various kinds ; among them are ten iron machine 
shops, two locomotive manufactories, several brass foundries ; sash, door and blind factories, 
tobacco and morocco mauufactorics and tanneries; others are used in saw-mills, flouring mills, 
plastermill.?, printing oflices, breweries, &c. There are in tho city 343 mechanic shops, among 
wliich are several iron foundries, boiler makers, blacksmith shops, carriage n-.al;in;r, railroad 
ear manufactories, furniture and chair, extensive boot and shoe and clothing establishment;.' 
(several of which employ from onchundredto three hundred haniL^,) hat and cap manufacto- 
ries and furriers, jcwclci's, cliurch organ, piano forte makers, saddle and harness makers, 
copper and tin ware manufactories, stone and marble works, balcerles, lard oil, soap and 
candle manufactories, &c., &c, 

Among tho most important manufactures in the city is that of iron, which is rtovf' 
carried on the most extensively, employing as thoy do between one and two thousand 
mon, and doing an aggregate business of over a million dollar.^ annually. 

Tho extensive mining and lumber regions of the north do now require all' the steam 
engines, and other machinery that can be supplied from this point, while our increasing 
lake marine offers to our engineers a field for competition with the skill and capital of other 
cities. And here Detroit need have no apprehensions, as the works of p.i^t years sufficiently 
evince tho supcrcior skill of her mechanics, sending forth numbers of elegant low pressure 
engines, witliout a single failure. 

The demand for engines will further increase with the development of tV.o iron and 
copper mineral region of Lake Superior, now just rendered acces.sible, by fht opening of 
the Sault St Mary ship can.al. 

A rolling mill, proparcd for every kind of work, up to the hc.avicst railroad iron, is vcrj- 
much required, and would without doubt prove a profitable invcstmcut 

Tho rich iron deposits of Lake Superior should be manufactured here at home into every 
form re(|uirod. Now the huge quantities of ore, or rather pure nutirc iron, already pro- 
duced, pass by us for want of works for its manufacture here, and near 1000 tons of which 
are returned in bars and sold and consumed hero annually. 

The copper smelting works here are altogether too .small to smelt all the copper sent 
down to them, and largo quantities are sent to works iu other cities. Tho establishment 
hero should be enlarged or a now one built witliout delay. 

LlT.TIBEn. 

Lumber is one of our great staples and must continue to be such for a long time to 
come, surrounded as wo aro with forests of pino, cherry, black walnut, oak, white wood 
and other timber. 

The extensive forest.'^ of pino, covering a large i)arl of our Peninsula, afford lumber of 
a superior quality, which is noted in all the principal markets. 

The manufacture and shipments are mostly carried on along the St. Clair River, Lake 
Huron, and Saginaw Bay. There are. however, in the eity and suburbs ten mills which 
manufactured during the year ppst 30,000,000 feet of lumber and 14,000,000 lath. Besides 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 21 

this there was received here from mills elsewhere 10,000,000 feet of Inmber, 24,000,000 

lath, and 5,100X1 shingles, making a total for 1854 of 46,000,000 feet of lumber, 38,000,000 

lath, and 3,100 M. shingles. This does not include any of tliat which arrived here over 

the plank-roads from the pine forests of Lapeer count j', nor the large shipments made 

b)' our citizens directly from the pineries, where many of them own and manage mills. 

And one of our most ostensive dealers estimates that the mills in this city will manufacture 

50,000,000 feet of pine lumber the present season, •(" Wights mill" alone, will make over 

8,000,000 feet.) 

The above representc only the trade in pine lumber, and does not include oak, black 

walnut, cherry and white wood, of which there are large quantities brought to this market 

and sold from the steam mills located at vaiwus points in the adjacent surrounding 

country. 

WYANCOTTE. 

This young city, bearing the name of the old Indian Chief, Wa!k-in-the-Water, after 
whom also the first steamboat which ever crossed Lake Erie was named, is situated on 
one of his favorite hunting grounds, on the baok of the Detroit river, ten miles below 
the eity, and promises soon to become a large manufacturing place, and a valuable tribu- 
tary to the business of this city. 

A Stock CoBipany recently purch.nsed the "Biddle Farm," containing twenty-two hun- 
dred acres, from Major Biddle, the front of which embraciag two miles on the river, and 
extending a half a mile back, has been dedicated as the site of the city of Wyandotte. 
Many lots have already been sold, and some thirty tenements erected. 

The " Eureka Iron Company" who own extensive iron ore-beds on Lake Superior, 
design to bring down the ore and rcanufacture it into pigs at this place for which purpose 
they are erecting a blast furnace. Extensive coalpits are already set up, and a large 
amount of orfi is to be brought down from the Lake this fall. The " Wyandotte Rolling 
Mills Company" are erecting very extensive works. Their main building js now in pro- 
cess of construction.the tin roof being nearly on. The building is one hundred and 
twenty feet square, twenty-nine feet between joints, and sixty-five feet to the top of the 
cupola, The rolling works are propelled by a large engine, taking its steam supply from 
five forty foot flew boilers, and the trip-hammor is worked by a separate engine, 

The company have their machinery on the gi'ound complete, for the manufacture of bar, 
roll, band and other iron. They have a heavy contract for the re-manufacture of railroad 
iron for the Michigan Central Railroad Company, upon ■which they will commence as soon 
as their works are in operation. 

THE FISH TKABE OF THE L,AKES. 

The early French explorers of the upper lakes, in 1610 make mention of the white fish 
and trout as being very luxurious and much used for sustenance of life by the sons of 
the forest. From the time civilization dawned upon the shores of the lakes, the French 
settlcre supplied themselves with them, and during the war of 1S12, they were found of 
substantial benefit to cui- soldiers in appeasing their hunger, for the want of other sup- 
plies. 

Previous to the completion of the Erie Canal, salt was mostly transported by the St. 
I.awreuce and thence up the Lakes, and obtained only at enormous prices. After the 
canal was completed it became comparatively cheap, and Mr. Barnabas Cnmpau, an 
enterprising merchant of the " olden time" was induced to pack a few barrels of white 
fish to ship to BufiFalo for sale as an experiment. The experiment proved unprofitable, 
but Mr. Compau continued to pack annually until his death, which was in 1845. Formany 
years the consumption was confined to Detroit and vicinity. 

But in 1830 emigration to Michigan rapidly commenced, and increased to such a 
degree in 1834 that the new comers found it difficult to purchase produce, on accuunt of 



22 SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 

the scarcity, as nearly everytliing consumed was imported from sister Stiitt'S. This 
caused a great consumption of fish, and gave birth to tlio extension of lake fisheries, and 
several other grounds besides Mr. Compaus, which was on Belle Isle, (formerly 
llog Island) owned by himself, and is still owned by his children, — it is situated a few 
miles above the city. 

From this time the business increased, and several grounds were cleared on the St. Clair 
Uiver, and as the market increased they were extended to the shores of Lake HuroiL 
Several houses in Detroit became estcncively enfi^agcd in the business, employing several 
ressels exclusively in the trada The American Fur Company also engaged in it; and 
in 1841 two schoonci-s were taken over the falls at the Saut St Marys into Lake Superior, 
for the purpose of fishing on that Lako^ 

Lake Superior abounds with the siscoiccit, a fish weighing from 3 to 10 pounds. They 
are exceedingly fat, and when tried will yield 25 per cent of oil. 

There are a great variety offish in the lakes, besides the white fisli; siscoweit and trout 
Sturgeon weiging 120 pounds have been taken: trout CO lbs. muskelungo 40 lbs; pickerel, 
15 lbs; muUett, 10 lbs; bill fish 6, cat 25. In the vicinity of the Sault St. Mary and all tho 
fctrcams emptying into Lake Superior, large quantities of small speckled or brook trout 
are taken. 

In 1840 there wore 35,000 barrels of fish of various kinds packed, and it is estimated 
that the quantity now annually taken cannot be less than 1(10,000 barrels. The most of 
which is brought to Detroit, where quantities are sold for home consumption; and market 
is found for them in Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana, and it is no uncommon thing to seo 
them advertised in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Louisville and Xatrhoz; and on the other hand in 
New York and Boston, while they also .show themselves at Salem, and Mjirblohoad,,the 
very head quarters of the mackerel fisheries. 

The white fish is regarded as the prince of fresh water fish. Hon. H. R. Schoolcraft in 
his poem, *' the white fish" says : 

" All friondfi t^ fOTl liring by lnrene and d sb, 

Concor in exiltint:^ tlii.x piincc of a fisb; 

Eo fine ID a platier. so temptinff a fry. 

So ncUon a g-idiroa, so sweet in a pl*^ 

Ti at cvtn before it ttio salmon inu:4 fail, 

And tfaatoiigtity boDof-boache, of Uio land beaver's tul. 

This fi'b Is a sulkjcct ro dainty and wUitci, 

To ihiiw io a lectuio. to eat or to «rit'*. 

That pqmlfl my joy ; I derltre, on my liTe, 

To raise up my voice or to rai?** up my knife, 

*Ti« amor.'cl al-k** for Uie goumiaTid orfa-tei; 

^Vhite, white a^i a t-.U^^tof pae ul tUniVe: 1 

ItK l>e'iuty or flaTor ho perion can ilour^t, 

TTboo Been in tlie wat?r, or taet-^d wilinut; 

And all Ibe di.'puk- Ibat opiiioD ere mrtkes 

Of lb Hkiiig I f Ilk" H^b*d, tb'ii'deerof the I.iko*,** 

Keeaidn n i' iUcl-.oi.^fnew", lo pmt'.tT nr '■iti». 

But tbi» iK-stmode uf dre Bing and Kurvi..^; il up. 

TliomuB'* might pppe"! to tlio j»c*ence of book*, 
To picture ith Ichthvtlog'cal lock*; 
Sh^w wliat in i'n funilv likeni-ii'', or odd% 
(yomn r»d wiih i'» couyinn, thw nfdnnn^ and cil'^ 
Tf II wbeto it npi-nsini itt**. pn-nt wlieri' it di «, 
By cnu'iting itn Hns. nr di-R< c''nt; tb" Rc*'fs 
CI protre br pNin r n nn« (f<u<'li prcxtf cm b" bnil) 
*T1< not * toothlesf saimon,' out r.itli'»' ii»ko hh;.(?. 
Il-n* ton, nil^hta f-incv to do-nant inriini-', 
Conl<';i pi it* the lurr Ibftt ttt- liiinKlti tlif kitid, 
And bring up tbo ti-d map, in Uv.v ful «ir li», 
To prove iLicrvilioii f,\>m fominiue b:aLiiii."t 

*A translation of Ail-i^lk-keem-Tatg, the Indian nanu for thU fi^b• 
f Vid«*iiidlui TaUaand I^rgvudj^' 



SKETCHES OF THE CITV OF DETROIT. 23 

I.AKE Sl^PCUIOR TRADE. 

The existence of Lake Superior was first known to the whites in 1641, when Chailes 
Raymbault and Isaac Jogues, Jesuit missionaries, who first visited the Ste Marie river, 
were informed by the Indians that beyond the foaming rapids, was a lake called by them 
"Kitcbi Gummi, (Big Lake) and in 1G60 Kene Mcsnard, a Jesuit Missionary, visited the 
lake and reached Point Keweenaw, who while crossing the Portage, wandered into the 
woods from his companions and was never hoard of afterwards. 

The importance of the mines of Lake Superior to the mercantile and manufacturing 
interests of Detroit, has long been appreciated by its business men, who encouraged and 
assisted the hardy adventurers in successfully develofiing the country, and who advocated 
and procured the constructicjn of the Sault Canal — a gigantic and almost imperishable 
v\ork that must bo ranked with the mighty structures of Greece and Rome. This great 
acqueduct was completed last spring, and Lako Superior, the largest body of fresh water 
in the world, which has hitherto been navigated by only three or four inferior steamboats 
or propellers, that were taken over land around the falls, is open to our lake commei'ce. 
A length of four hundred miles is thereby added to our inland navigation, which now 
extends uninterrupted from the Athintio Ocean to the St. Louis river, at the head of Lako 
Superior, in the territory of Minesota and Wisconsin. At which point a short line of 
railroad is soon to be constructed, extending to the Mississippi river. 

In tho spring of 1845, the entire fleet on Lake Supei'ior. consisted of the schooners 
White Fish, belonging to the Hudson Bay Fur Company, the " Slscoweit," belonging to 
the A. M. F. Co., and the " Algonquin," owned by Mr. Mendenhall. During that year the 
schooners Napoleon, Swallow, Uncle Tom, lilcrchant, Chippewa, Ocean, and Fur Trader, 
were added, and in 1846, the steamboat "Detroit" was the first and only steamboat which 
pUed regularly between Detroit and the Sault. Now there are four first-class passenger 
steamboats, besides several propellers, running regularly between Detroit and ports on 
Lake Superior, passing through the Sault Canal. 

The importations of provisions and supplies for tho mines alone, are more than a million 
dollars per annum, now, which will annually increase with the rapid settlement and devol- 
opemeut of tho country. 

I.AKI; StiPEKIOn COPPER. 
The existence of copper upon its shores appears to have been known to the earliest 
travelers and traders. As early as 1666, Father Claudo Allouzo visited tho Lake, and 
informs us that pieces of copper were frequently found there, weighing from ton to twenty 
pounds. 

In 1669, Baron La Hontan visited the Lake, and described tho copper mines in his 
" Voiagesto Canada." In 1721, P. do Charlevoix passed thro' the lako on his way to the 
Gulf of Mexico, and mentions the copper mines in his "Journal of a Voyage to North 
America." Captain Carver visited the lake in 1766, and in his book of travels, published 
an account of tho copper found on its shores. The mines were worked at as early a 
period as 1771, by a company composed of His Royal Highness, tho Duke of Gloucester, 
Mr. Secretary Townsend, Sir Samuel Tucket, Bart. Mr. Baxter, Consul of the Em]jeror 
of Russia, and Mr. Cruikshank, in England ; and Sir William Johnson, Bart., Mr. Bost- 
wick, Mr. Baxter and Mr. Henry in America. An air furnace was erected by this company 
at Point Aux Pin. Their mining operations were confined on the south shore of tho 
lake, to the Ontonagon River, The object in forming this company was not for the 
purpose of obtaining copper, but for the silver the ore might contain. During the winter of 
1771-2, they penetrated into the hill forty feet, on a vein of native copper, which held 
out that distance. In the spring, when the thaw came, the clay, on which thoy relied 
for its stitfnes, and neglected to prop up, caved in. The enterprize was then abandoned. 
Traces of the early operations are distinctly visible at this late day, in the vicinity where 



A 



24 



SKETCHES OF TUB CITY OF UETROIT. 



tho groat copper rock weighing jfoarly two tons was found, which was removed by Mr. 
Julius KUIred of this city, in 1845, and now lies in the Navy Yard at Washington. 

l>r. Franklin was familiar with the existence of these mines, who remarked that when 
drawing the treaty of peace with Englauil, in the city of Paris ho had access to the jour- 
nals and charts of a corjis of French Enirinoers that were explorinsr Lake Superior wlicn 
Quebec fell to the French; from which chai-ts, bo dresv the lino through Lake Superior, 
to incluilu the most and host of the enjipor mines to the United SUites ; that the time would 
como when drawing that lino would be considered tlie greatest service ho ever rendered 
his country, and the copper ore to bo a greater source of wealth than any other nation 
possessed ; that the facilities of transportutien would be well improved, so aS to export 
copper ore to Europe cheaper tlvin tbov raised itfroni their own mines." 

The first trace of any action of the L'nited States riovernnicnt, about the mines on Lake 
Superior, w;is during the administration of President Johu Adams. In 1800, Congress 
passed a resolution " respecting the copper mines, on the south shore of Lake Superior, 
providing that the President be authorized to employ an agent to collect information rel- 
ative to tho copper mines, whether the Indian titles to the lands subsisted, if so, on what 
terms it could bo extinguished, &c. 

In 1819 an expedition was fitted out by the General Government, under tho command 
of General Cass, then (iovernor of the Territory of Michigan, for tho ))urpose of settling 
existing difiicultios among the various Indian tribes, living on the borders of Lake Supe- 
rior and extending beyond tho Mississippi River. Hon. Henry R. Schoolcraft accom- 
panied General Cass, who collected a valuable mass of historical facts, all tending to show 
tho existence of Copper at many points, both on the main land and the islands. 

In 1840 the State (ieological Cor] s, under Dr. Ilnughton. State Geologist, carried their 
researches into tho wild, but interesting region of Lake Superior. The annual reports 
of Dr. Houghton contained a lucid statement of facts, giving extended and accurate in- 
formation with regard to this interesting region, the knowledge of which had hitherto 
been confined to tho imperfect and unlimited observation of voyaging travelers. 

MINING. 
Public attention had not been attracted to the mineral region of tho Upper Peninsu- 
la of our State, and no attempt at mining there had been made since tho suspension of 
operations by tho English Company in 1772 until after Dr. Houghton commenced his 
Geological surveys of tho region. 

In 1842 a treaty was made with the Chippewa Indians, by Mr. Robert Stewart, of this 
citv. By this treaty, all of tho country east of Fondulac, including the islands in Lake 
Superior, not previously acquired, was ceded to tho Ignited States. Immediately after 
the ratification of the treaty in \MX applications were made to explore and dig fbr Cop- 
per ore en tho south shore of Lake R;iperior. Tho Secretary of war in tho spring of 
that year, issued tliree permifs to Aii.'sley, to Wilson & Turner, and to Turner & Snyder. 
These were the first permits that were granted. 

Shortly after Mr. Walter Cunninirbnm was appointed Special Agent by the Government 
for tho mines on Lake Superior, who es fablishcil his agency at Copper Harbor. About this 
time Col. Chas. H. Gratiot, with a comp.iny of miners from tho lead mines in Wisconsin, 
arrived at Copper Harbor, and coninienced mining operations. 

In 1 f^Ai. C. C. Douglass formerly assistant State Geologist of Michigan, was employed by 
the Lake Supeiinr Mining Company to explore their locations. 

Dr. Houfhton continued tho Gcolo^'ical surveys of tho region, until ho lost his lifo, 
being wrecked in a storm on Lake Superior, on tho I3th, of October 184.S. Up to July 
18.10, about 000 permits were eranted to different individuals, to work these mines, about 
600 of which were located, and about .10 companies were organized underleases obtained 
from Government, and many commenced operations; sovornl of which are in successful 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 25 

operation at this time. Among these are the Pittsburgh & Boston, (Cliff) Minesota, North 
American, Albion, North Western, North West, and Copper Falls. 

Inl846, tho committee on Public Lands made a report to Congress questioning tho 
authority to grant permits ^nd leases of these lands, and no further leases were issued. 
In 1848 Congress passed a law providing for the salo of these lands, and granting 
pre-emption rights. Several of the old Companies purchased the hinds they had located 
under their leases, but most of them abandoned them, and but some five or si.x of tho old 
Companies aro now in existence. Other Companies were formed, who purchased mineral 
lands, and there are now about 60 Copper Mining Companies organized, most of which aro 
working their mines, others arc explormg their tracts of land, and others again having 
mineral tracts of known value, which at present are inaccessable. are waiting the opening 
of roads to them, before commencing opcititions. Most of the Companies have hitherto 
prudently pursued the policy of woikinga small force on their locations, merely sufiicient 
to explore, and gradually open and dcvelope their mines, waiting the opening of the Sault 
Canal for the more vigorous and economical prosecution of operations. The opening of 
the Canal has given an impetus to mining operations this summer, and many of the young 
mines have increased forces working, and nothing but tho most stringent condition in the 
financial affairs of the country prevents a much greater increase. Tho Lake Superior 
region alreaily has a population estimated at 20,000, about equal to what there was 
in the whole Territory thirty years ago. Several thriving v'lkigcs have sprung up, rail- 
roads are constructing, and a Locomotive of a largo size is actually on its shores. 

PKOOUCE OF COPPER. 
The first shipment of copper of any account, was made in 1S4S, amounting to about 
200 tons. In 1853 there were 2535 tons of copper, of tho value of #1,014,000 exported. 
In 1854 it is estimated that there were exported 3500 tons of copper valued at more than|a 
million and a half of dollars, and it is estimated that the exports the present year will 
i-each 5000 tons of copper valued at over two million dollars. 

The Minesota mine is now producing about one hundred and thirty tons of Copper per 
■ month, and the Cliff mine about the same, making from these two mines alone, a,v aggre- 
gate of 3,120 tons of copper per year, which at $400 per ton — the estimated value at 
the mines, will produce f 1,248,100. 

Besides these, there are forty others of the younger mines, that will send forward 
from twenty to five hundred tons each, during the present year. The annual product of 
the mines will doubtless increase and double every two or three years for some time to 
come. 

The shipments of copper from the Ontonagon district alone the present season up to 
August 18, amounted to 2,754,860 pounds, as follows : 

Minesota and Rockland mines, . . - . 1,661.302 lbs 

National, ------- 66.369 " 

Forest, --.--.- 212.763 " 

Norwich, ----... 315.461 " 

Eidge, -.--.-- 80,549 " 

Nebraska, --....- 37 GOO " 

Ohio Trap Rock, .,-,.- 42,733 " 

Adventure, ------- 91,470 " 

Pouglass Houghton, ..... 50,145 " 

Bohemian, --.-.-. 4,593 " 
Toltec, -..-.-. 117,516 " 

Windsor, -..-... 67,679 " 
Evergreen Blufl", ----.- 14,690 " 

Tho Minesota mine in tho month of July produced 139 J tons, and will ship during tho 



26 



SKETCHES OF THB CITY OK DETROIT. 



present season about 1300 tons of copper. The mines in the Portage Luke, and Kowo- 
naw districts are equally productive, but not having tbcm at hand, particulars are not 
hero given. 

The total amount paid in by the share holders in the Cliff mine, (Kewonaw dislrict) is 
8l8,50 per share (on GOOD shares) and the company have realized from the product of tho 
mine and divided 877 per share. The total amount paid in by the share-holders in tho 
Mincsota mine, (Ontonagon) is 822 per share ; (on 3000 shares,) and the company have 
realized from tho product of tho mine and divided *C0 per share. It will bo borne in 
mind that all operations in Lake Superior, have hitherto been carried on at an enormous 
cost, and every inconceivable inconvcuicnco, and if such results were attained with all 
the embarrassments experienced, what may wo not expect now that these enibarriiss- 
ments are removed ; and mines hereafter will be developed for one-fourth the expense 
heretofore necessarily incuiTcd. 

All the copper of Lake Superior contains more or less native silver, and it is sometimes 
found in pjicces weighing sevei'al pounds. 

All of the Mines produce pure native copper, and masses weighing throe and four 
hundred thousand pouids Iiave been found. 

Smelting works for tho purpose of smo'ting Lake Superior Copper have been orectod at 
Detroit, Cleveland and I'ittsburgh, all of which are kept well supplied. Tho works at De- 
troit are tho largest in the United States. 

liAKIO SUPERIOR IRON. 

Tho following description of tho iron ore of Luke Superior, was furnished by Charles 
A. Trowbridge, Esq., of Detroit, and first published in tho transactions of tho Agricul- 
tural Society. 

" There is probably no part of the American Continent which can boast of as pure iron 
ore, in as groat quantities, cniireh/ above the surface of the eaith, (the amount below the 
surface never having been ascertained) as the State of Michigan. 

With regard to its purity, wo quote a letter addressed to Edward K. Collins, Esq., by 
James R. Chilton, M. 1). of New York City, in which Dr. Chilton says: " I givo below 
tho analysis of four samples of iron ore, which 1 took from boxes opened in my pres- 
ence, at your office in Wall Street, each box being mai'ked in accordance with the sam- 
ple. Tho result was as follows : 

Collins Iron Co., Iron Hill, on sec. No. 2. Jackson Iron Co., Iron Hill on sos. No. I. 

Per oxydo of iron 92 2G-100 

equal to C458-100 metallc iron. 

Silica - . - 6 15-100 

Alumina- - - 1 71-100 

Water & loss - - 3S-100 
Manganisu — none. 



Making - - - 100 00 p'rts 
Messrs. Trowbridge & Gravorats Iron Hi! 
sec. No. 10. 

Per oxyde of iron, 94 37-100 

equal to CGOO-loO mctalic iron. 



Silica - 


3 11-100 


Alumina 


1 44-100 


^lanyani.'JO 


KWldO 


Water and loss 


92-100 



Making 



100 UO parts.; 



Per oxvdo of iron, 


95 


60-100 




equal to C0y2-l00 metalic 


u-on. 




Silica - - - 


. 


1 71- 


-100 


Alumina 


- 


1 54-100 


Lime and Manganise 




4:i- 


-I'lO 


Water and loss 




7-_'- 


-100 



Making - - - 100 00 ))art8 
Christalino ore from Messrs. Trowbridgo 

and Graverats iron Hill on sec. No. 10. 

Per oxyde of iron, - 98 78-100 

equal to 6915-100 metalic iron. 

Solica - . - - 46-100 
Alumina - - - 13-100 

Water and loss - - 62-100 



Makins: 



100 00 parts 



E.af.h of tho above samples was tested for Phosphorus and sulphur, hut without detect- 
ing any ; therefore I know of no reasim why these ores should not yield iron of tho 
very best quality, by tho simple.it mode of reduction. 

Respectfully submitted, James R. Cuilto.n.'' 



SKETCHES OP THE CITY OF DETROIT. 27 



We will here remark, tbat the boxes of ore mentioned by Dr. Chilton, were taken from 
the top of the iron hill mentioned by Mr. Collins, in the summer of 1853 ; and the verbal 
opinion expressed by the Doctor, at the time he made the analysis, was that the ore must 
increase in richness as you descend towards the base of the hill. As these " iron hills" 
arc from 150 to 300 feet in height, and one solid mass of " iron" there can be but little 
doubt, but that at a depth of 100 foot from the surface, the ore must yield nearly 80 per cent- 
um, motalic u-on. 

Somo of the hills above mentioned, are 80 rods in length by 40 rods in width, contain- 
ing raillious upon millions of tons of this very rich ore. 

As regards the quality and strength of the iron made from this ore, we quote from the 
report of Major Wade of the United States Ordnance Department, made to the Secretary 
of War, Senate Documents, Special Session, March, IS.0 1, page 80. 

Sti'ength of pounds per square inch. 
Iron from Salesbury, Conn., by means of 

40 trials ------- 58,009 

" from Sweden, 4 trials, ... - - 58.184: 

" from Centre County, Pa., 15 trials, . - - - 58,400 

" from Lancaster " « 2 " - - - - 58,661 

" from Mclntyre, Essex County, N. J, 4 trials . - - 58,912 

" from England, Cable Bolt, E. V., 5 trials, - - - 59,105 

"• from Russia, 5 trials, ..... 75,069 

" from Carp river, Lake Superior, .... 89,582 

By the above data it will be seen that the Lake Superior iron sustained a pressure of 
13,513 lbs. more to the square inch than Russia iron, which was found to sustain 10,094 
more per square inch than English cable bolt, which is known to be the strongest iron Eng- 
land makes ; thereby showing the Lake Superior iron to bo about 54 per cent, stronger 
than the best English cable bolt. This iron has been so thoroiiohly proven in New York, 
Boston, PitFsburgh, Cincinnati, and at the United States Navy Yard, within the p."iSt five 
years, by manufacturing it into car axles, boiler plate, steam engines, wire, tacks, nails, (the 
cut nail being found to clinch as well as the ordinary wrought nails) and tho manufac- 
ture of steel, that a volume could, if necessary, be written to show its great strength and 
tenacity. All that is now wanted, is a sufficiency of capital to transport the ore to mar- 
ket, or manuficture the iron with charcoal, iu tlio immediate vicinity of the " hills" whero 
there is a superabundance of the best water power in tho State ; ami we can see no rea- 
son why Michigan cannot supply her sister states with this superior iron at a lower prico 
than any other iron can be produced in this country. Bloom iron can be made with char- 
coal in Marquette county, by water power, and placed on board vessels at the low price 
of #2G,50 per ton of 2,240 pounds; and the same iron can be sold in New York, for SlOO 
per ton for tho various purposes we have enumerated — the ore being above the surface, 
its value can be .as easily ascertained as the valuo of a pino tree in tho forest ; and invest- 
ments of capital in this business, do not run that hazard they necessarily must run in 
seeking for copper and other materials below the surface. 

We consider that a trip to the Iron Hills of Lake Superior will more than pay any 
one, if he does nothing more than take a hasty surrey of that immense mineral deposite, 
without investing a farthing in tho various adventures to make them productive." 

"Works for the manufacture of Iron are now in operation at Marquette, and others are 
being erected. Railroads from Marquette to tho Iron manufactories have been constructed, 
and the whistle of the Locomotive is already heard there, while largo quantities of tho 
Oro are transported to Erie, Cleveland and Wyandotte, a few miles below Detroit, to bo 
manufactured. 
The "Collins Iron Company'' have erected very extensive works at Marquette, and have 



28 SKBTCnES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 

recently commenced tbu manufacture of bar iron, and their first shipment of 02 tons was 
received hero a few days since. They now have four forges, and will in a short time have 
ei?lit in opciation, when they will manufacture 50 tons per week. This iron, cu account 
of its tuporior quality, sells readily for one hundred dollars per ton. 

Since the above was written, another shipraentof 200 tons of bar iron has been received. 

LAKE SL'PERIOB MARBLE. 

In the vicinity, and beyond the 'Iron Hills,' extensive beds of superior Marble hare been 
found, but for the want of roads they are at present inaccessible. But this will in a short 
time be remedied, when these quarries will be worked, and the time is not distiint when 
it will be used in Detroit for building purposes, and Marble Palaces will bo erected by 
the ''Mining and Manufacturing Princes" of the Upper Peninsula. 

No estimate could easily ov»'rvalue the richness and importance of the traffic of the Lako 
Superior region, even now, ami Riches that make the almost fabulous wealth of .Australia and 
California but insignificant, lie hurried beyond the iron and copper bound shores of the 
Lake. 

COAL. 

About 100,000 tons of iliiioral Coal is annually consumed in Detroit by manufactories, 
Furnaces, Gas Works and Steamboats, and for domestic purposes. All of which is at pre- 
sent brought here from Ohio and Pennsylvania, while within a distance of less than 100 
miles from the city, extensive fields of superior quality of coal have been known to ex- 
ist for many years past, but which could not bo made available to us for want of a cheap 
niodo of conveyance to this point. This is now soon to be afforded by the construction 
of the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad, which passes directly through the coal district; 
when it is expected that our own coal fields will not only supply coal for the consumption 
of the city, but also the mineral i-cgion of the Upper Peninsula, at cheaper rates than 
it can be obtained from any other source. 

The late Dr. Houghton, State Geologist, made thorough explorations of the coal dis- 
tricts, and in his reports to the Legislature in 1S39, 1840 and 1841, he says that the main 
bod of coal which travci-ses the central counties of the State, has been traced norther- 
ly to within a few miles of the south line of Shiawassee county, and that the bed has been 
found of sufficient thickness to admit of being profitably worked." Also "south-westerly 
into Jackson county, where the boil is of sufficient thickness to admit of being worked, 
and the coal is of a quality well fittijd for all tho purposes to which that substance is 
ajiplicd." 

"The most extensive beds of coal were noticed in township 4 north, range 1 and 2 east, 
in Ingham county, and range 3 and 4 west in Eaton county "A bod of bituminous 
coal more than 2 feet thick of a superior quality in town 4 north, range 2 east occurs in 
tho bed and banks of Cedar River, Ingham county. It is compact, has a glossy lustre, 
ignites easily, bums with a light flamo, and leaves only a small quantity of earthy resi- 
due." After commenting on tho "range and extent of the coal bearing rocks" hosays : On 
the east group of rocks appears in the towns of Leoni and West jiortago, in Jackson 
county, in the north east corner town of Ingham county, in tho bod of tho Red Cedar 
Rivor. 

Its boundn'y is known to streti-h northerly across tho Shiawassee and Flint Rivers, 
thus bringing within the limits of the coal rocks, p.arts of Genesee, Shiawassee. Ingham, 
Jackson, Calhoun, Harry and Kent Counties, and probably the whole of Katon, Ionia and 
Clinton Counties." "The coal at this point (Red Cedar Uiver, Ingham county) is very ac- 
ccEsablo, and must ore long prove of great importance." 

"Tho coal has hero (Shiawassee County) a thickness of from three and a half to four feet." 

From these extracts it appi'ars that the coal bewaring rocks exteml through nine conn- 
tics of tho Stato,(and they probably do more,) a distance of nearly one hundred miles and 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 



29 



that the same stratum of coal, belonging to the lower coal basin, is exhibited to view at 
three different points of out crop, viz : at Barry, in Jackson county, at Red River, in 
Ingham county, 35 miles from Barry, and at Shiawassee River, 25 miles from Red Ce- 
dar River, occupying a line at least GO miles in extent. 

Col. Richard R. Lansing, President of the Michigan Coal Company, who hag spent tho 
past ten years in investigating and exploring the coal fields, says that in 1844 he sank a shaft 
at Kcd Cedar river, through the coal bed which at that point was about seven foot be- 
low the surface, and that he found it to be two feet nine inches thick, overlaid by a stra- 
tum of fire clay, and resting on a bed of stone. That in 1850 he caused another shaft to 
bo sunk, and the actual measurement of the thickness of the coal bed at that point, as re- 
ported to him, was found to bo 2 70-100 foot. 

In 1853, Col. Lansing laid bare tho coal bed at Red Cedar River, to the extent of Up- 
ward of a thousand superficial square foot, and removed to the surface about 60 tons of 
coal. The structure varied in thickness from three feet to twenty-eight inches, 14 tons of 
the coal was transjjortcd to Detroit, to be subjected to all the tests for the various purposes 
for which bituminous coal is generally used, which was tested by ^Ir. S. H. Newhall, Su- 
perintendant of motive power M. C. R, R.. who certified to its adaptation for forges. Mr. 
Eber B. Ward who had its power to raise steam, tested on one of bis Boats, testifies 
that "the coal burned freely, emitting a great deal of flameand raising steam rapidly, was 
reduced to ashes without exhibiting any evidences of Sulphur, or clinker, or making any 
impression on the gr.ites of the furnaces, which after the experiment, were loft as free from 
any adhesive matter as if wood had been burned.'' 

Col. Orville B. Dibble of the "Bid<lle House," after testing it in making Gas, certified 
th.at his "decided opinion is, your coal yields as much gas as any other domestic coal used 
for that purpose, and its lumious qualities certainly exceed any othe i gas manufactured 
by us." 

Ml-. Francis Smith an Engineer of great experience, in the making coko in the north of 
England, certifies that ho made some experiments with tho "Michigan Coal and came to 
the conclusion, which was entirely favorable to tho coal, as being good for the making of 
coke, that he "had seen a gas retort charged with this coal three several times, and tho 
coke yielded in these instances, was, throughout, of that uniform silvery appearance 
which is an invariable feature in good coke,'' and, that his impression is, "that this coal 
with proper ovens, would make as good coke as that now used in England, in firing Loco- 
motives and blast furnaces." 

For domestic use Adrian R. TeiTy M. D., certifies that he "never in the Western 
country, burnt a coal which gave so clear and brilliant a flame and of which tho coke, 
(after the bitumen was burned out,) made so permanent and hot a fire. It leaves but 
an insignificant amount of ashes or earthy residue, in comparison with any coal I have 
ever bui'ncd in this region." 

Tho foregoing certificates are published in the ''Transactions of the Michigan Agricul- 
tural Society." 

Tho Coal fields belonging to tho "Michigan Coal Company" which is now fully organized, 
are three in number. One upon the Michigan Central Rail Road, one upon the Detroit 
and Milwaukee Rail Road and one upon tho Detroit aad Lansing Plank Road. Each 
of wliich have recently been explored by Mr. A. G. Bradford, of Pennsylvania, a scientific 
gentleman of high attainments, and each is spoken of in a report made by him to tho 
Board of Directors, in tlic most favorable terms. Mr. B. states at tho conclusion of his 
report, that "The Coal found at each place is of extraordinary purity, approaching in qual- 
ity 'Cannel Coal' blend ing in its componant parts, all tho necessary elements for every va- 
riety of use. From my Coal explorations in several States of tho Union, to which I 
have devoted the most of my attention for the past fifteen years of my life, I can safely 



30 



BKETCUES OF THE CUT OF DETROIT. 



say, that 1 never saw Coal at tho out crop of such oxtraordinary quality aud purity, and so 
froo gcuerally from Sulphur and other iiupurativos.' 

This Company is ahout commencing active mining operations. 

SALT. 

It is estimated, that there is annually brought to this State 8400,000 worth of salt 
from the Now York Salt Springs. This shoulil, and tho time is not distant when it will 
bo manufactured and supplied from tho salt springs of this State, which are known to 
produce brine of sufficient strength and purity for profitable manufacture. 

Bela Hubbard, Esq., late assistant State Geologist, in a communication to J. C. Holmes, 
Esq., Secretary of the State Agricultural Society says; " The State Geologist early point- 
ed out tho fact of thoexistoni-ooflargo3a!t deposits, and indicated tho points at which bor- 
ings might bo most profitably conducted. Those were commenced in 1839 at Grand Rap- 
ids and Tittabawassa river. Owing to tho great expense aud difficulty at that time of obtain- 
ing tho necessary materials for tho undertaking, no sufficient appropriations wore made, 
and tho works were abandoned when the borings had [proceeded to not more than half 
tho depth indicated, as that which wouM be found necessary, tlic latter being estimated at 
from 600 to 700 feet. Even at the depth reached on Grand River, (about 300 feet) 
tho quantity and strength of tho brine discharged, exceeded that obtaiiieil at any of tho 
Salt Springs in tho country, except those of New York, being not less than 130 gallons per 
minute, of which about 100 gallons contained a bushel of salt. At tho samo time, a pri- 
vate cnterpi'ise, undertaken at Grand Rapids, by the lion. Lucius Lyon, had conducted 
borings to a depth of 400 feet, yielding a brine, when tho upper fresh waters could bo 
shut off, of which, about 28 gallons contained a bushel of salt. Xono of these borings, how- 
ever, had extended into the lower salt rock a sufficient depth to reach the strongest brine, 
and the great difficulties attending the work in connection with tho small Ihcilitics for 
securinc: a market, and for competition with tho rich salt springs of western New York, 
induced a temporary abandonment." 

Facilities for procuring proper materials for working and for conveying the salt when 
manufactured to market, will now soon be afforded by tho completion of the Detroit and 
Milwaukee Railroad ; and thcso salt wells will again bo opened, and to tho proper doprh 
indicated by Dr. Houghton, when it is confidently expected that tho brine produced, will 
bo second in character to none in tho United States. 

CITV STATISTICS, 1SJ3. 

The following is a recapitulation of the statistics of tho city, prepared and reported 
to tho Board of Water Commissioners by their Secretary, Juno 30th, 1855, at which time 
the city contained : 



FamilioH,*. 6,S2S 

(PITicca, 175 

Itoiler Manufactories.^ 4 

Saw Mamifactory, 1 

Tanneries .t Morocco fiict'a, 9 

Potteri*^^, 2 

Kodii A .'^inall Beer Factories, • • ."i 

Jail, 1 

Fire Kngine Honsop, 9 

Trivate Mea* Markets, 24 

Kldne and Marlile Works, 10 

Stationary Steam Engines, 4G 

Itectifying Distilories, 2 

Stores 33S 

Mechanic Shops, 34.1 

It. H. Car Factories, 2 

Saw Mills, n 

Plaster .Mill, I 



Bakeries,. 21 

Dye Houses, 5 

Chiirchcs, 28 

Hospital, 1 

Private Schools, 24 



Pul.lic Markets, 2 

Sonp and Candle factoricii,- • • 9 

Public St Sprinklers, 2 

ttnceries 2('»0 

Iron Kounderies, 7 



Kail Itoad Depots, 2 Steainphininf;, door. sash, blind 

Browerii's, 17 an>l turrniure factories,- ■•■ 12 



Malt Houses. 2 

Boardinp Ilouacs, 1.31 

Taverns. 40 

Iron Machine Shops, 10 

I.ocomntive Maufactories, 2 

Flour Mills, 3 

Steam Tulmcco Factories, 6 

Oaa Works. 1 

PrintinRO Dices, 11 

Hanks 4 

Orphans' Homes, 2 



Unrr .Mill Stone factory, I 

Water Works I 

Public Halls 9 

Theatres 5 

Public Schools 2S 

Warehouses 2* 

I.ard Oil Factorv 1 

Wheat Elevalorx' 2 

Public bathing estublishmcDts,' 4 



♦This number more properly represents the number of House keepers than the number of families 
TUc number is made up from those aiucsaed for water, and where fainilica nrc boarding with others 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 31 

The above includes thoso only within the city limits, while within a mile aboTO and bo- 
low there are, say 700 fiiniilios, several saw mills, tannaries, breweries, a copper smelting 
works, dry doclc,&c.,&o., all of which are to be taken into account, when estimating the 
business &c. of the city. 



The nuinljer of families residing in the fevernl 
Wards of the City, July 1st 1S55, were as fol- 
lows;' — 

First Ward, • • GG7. 

Second Ward, 229. 

Third Ward, 530. 

Fourth Ward, 977. 

Fifth Ward, 817. 

Sixth Ward, 1,159. 

Sevonth Ward, 1,065. 

Eighth Ward, 884. 

Total, C,328. 

The number of families residint; in the 
lower or western district of the city, 
c omprisinff the 1st, 2d, 5th and 8th 
Wards, was, 2,597. 

The number of Families residinj; in the 
upper or eastern district, comprising the 
3d, 4th, Uth and 7th Wards, was, 3,731. 



The increase of number of Families in the City, 
for the year ending July 1st, 1855, was as fol- 
lows: — 
In the lower or western district, comprising 1st, 
2d, 5th and 8th Wards, as follows:^ 

First Ward, 14 Families. 

Sef^ond Ward, 5 " 

Fifth Ward, 87 " 

Eighth Ward, 97 " 

Total, 233 " 

In the upper or eastern district, 

comprising the 3d, 4th, 7th and 

0th Wards, as follows; — 

ThirdWard, 1 " 

Fourth Ward, 34 " 

Sixth Ward, 104 

Seventh Ward, 173 



Total, 372 " 

Total increase in City, 575 " 

SCHOOI-S — THEia EAKI.T HISTORT. 

The compiler of these sketches is indebted for the following sketch of the early history of 
schools in Detroit, to lion. B. F. H Witherell, to whom the public .are frequently indebted 
for interesting sketches of the early history of Michigan, published in the city papers. 

Dear Sir : — At your suggestion, I send you a sketch of the early history of Schools in 
our Territory, so far as I have been able to learn it : 

It is difficult to trace in detail, tho efiorts made more than a half a century since for the 
education of- our people — shut out as they were, fi-om tho rest of the civilized world, by 
hundreds of miles of pathless forests, and scattered along the margins of our rivers and 
lakes, of whom some few hundreds only were gathered about the hamlet of Detroit — then 
only a trading post, with a garrison to protect it. 

On cnr|uiry of some of the " Old Settlers," I learn, that some time during the latter 
part of the last century, Monsieur Recours, and afterwards Mr. Ballpour taught ' the school," 
and after them, about 1799 to 1803, a Mr. Eurrel wielded the ensign of authority ; he kept 
on St. James street in the rear of the present Freemason's Hall. 

After Burrell, came Mr. Donovan. Ho taught at the Park-house, between St. Louis St., 
and the river, in rear of Palmer & Whipples' Stationer's store. 

On the 11th of June, 1805, in the morning when the fire burst out, (which con- 
sumed every house in the town, but one.) one of the scholars tells me that he was in school — 
hearing the alarm, the boys all rushed forth to see the fun ; but while in full career, they 
were suddenly arrested, by a cask of tamarinds, thrown into the street from a burning 
store, on which they feasted till tho flames drove them off. Teacher and scholars in 
a few minutes found themselves, hatless and bookless — all were consumed — and tho v.hole 
town being in ashes, none could be got. But the old French fashion of making a turban of 
a handkerchief, answered the purpose. 

Old John Golf, the old sage, with his drab breeches and long blue stockings, followed 
Donovan. Ho kept " the school" for several years after tho fire. The boys say that he 

or in boarding houses and taverns, they are not set down. The number of families boarding is unu- 
sually large at present in the city, in consequence of the scarcity of dwellings to rent, the assessor found 
hut 23 in the whole city at the lime he went through it, and he parsed through every street. And 
several of these were vacantto repair This number offarailieshe estimates would average, including 
single persons, (of which there is a mnch greater proportion than in eastern cities,) and the families 
boarding, at eight each, which would give a population at that time in the city of 50,624. 



32 8KSTCHE8 OF THB CITT OF DETROIT. 

hiul not tho fear ol tlio Maine Law before his eyes, but daily got a little corned in the 
forenoon, and licked tlie boys ; and in the afternoon, kissed the girls. At last the old man 
passed away from mortal ken — having taught as long as ho could stand on his legs. — • 
He first opened his school on the west side of tho mouth of tho "Riror Savoyard," near 
tho old residence of the late Col. D. G. Jones ; and his hist school wiis kept opposite B. 
Thompson's Livery Stable. 

'■The River Savoyard" somewhat noted in the annals of our city, was nothing more than 
a largo creek, draining tho common back of the town.and a few farms lying aboro it. It 
was sometimes a largo stream ; and I have known it necessary to take people living along 
its margin, out of their windows into a canoe and carry them ashore. This was after 
long-continned rains; but ourniuJorn subterranean rivers have done tho work for "tho 
Savoyard" — its glory is departed — it is "among tho things that iccrc" but are not 

It obtained its narao from old Peter Berthlett ; (tho grand-father of those yet among us,) 
he kept a pottery on the west side of its mouth, near the outlet of tho present grand se^v- 
er. lie bore the nick-nunie of " Savoyard" pri>bul)ly because himself or his ancestors Were 
from Savoy ; ho always wont by that name. Mrs. Sheldon luis in some way trausfurnlod 
it to " Xavier,'' which it never bore. 

Old Father Berthlett went to Montreal, and in days when stoves were a scartre article, 
brought up a large number, and let them out for from three to ten dollars each, per win- 
ter ; and by this and other operations, became tho wealthiest man in Canada. He died 
about thirty years ago. 

" Mais revenon a nos Mouton." 

Daniel Curtis kept "the school" a while in 1810 and '11. He was then appointed 
an officer in the army, and a right brave and gallant soldier ho was. Ho, and a brother 
Lieutenant, in spite of tho orders of a drunken Captiiin, held out for many days against 

a large body of Indians who besieged Fort ", until relieved by a body of General 

Harrison's light-horse. 

Old Mr. Rowe next entered the field after the war was over, and taught "tho school" 
in a little wooden building, which stood in the rear of Ives' Broker's office, in Griswold 
street, belonging to Joseph Compau. Here tho sciences flourished under tho influence 
of tho old man's birchen rod. There was a little cupola on tho edifice — the only one of the 
kind west of Lake Erie. The young ido is rapidly expanded under its shadow. Rowo 
slept with his fatliers, and as all tilings must have an end, so did tho cupola. Griswold 
street was to be widened. Mr. Compau refUsed his assent, and deeming the offered 
compensation insuffi'iont, he refused to remove the building, and the agents of the city 
sawed dutcii through it and sold that ])al'l that was in the street to John Farmer (I think) 
will) yet owns it. 

Tho good old Father Richard, the only Catholic clergyman in the country — whom nono 
know but to respect — was anxious to educate h's people, and about tho year 1811, sent to 
France and procured M. Lo Salliere to come over as a teacher. He taught a short time, but 
the war came on and his school ceasod. There are yet several mon among us, who owe 
much of their schoUistic knowleilge to Father Richard's personal attention as their teach- 
er, but his clerical duties, occupied too much ot his time to leave as much as he dcsirej 
for educational purposes. 

Among tho well eihuMtcd men — natives of tho cotmtry in oUTen time, was that sterling 
old patriot. Captain Cliarles Morau, the father of the Judge. 

When quite a young man he was employed in tho office of Captain Phillip do Jean, so 
well known, and who figured largely in the history of Michigan, some eighty years since. 
Do Jean was an emigrant from France, and was appointed n magistrate by tlio British 
Lieutenant-Ciovcrnor II imllton. under wiiosoorders, ho. on the l.'^th of March, 1776, tried 
John Contencinan for stealing some beaver, otter, and raccoon skins, from Abbot & Finchly, 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 33 

and Ann Wylie. formerly a slave of Abbott & Fincbley on a charge of stealing or be- 
tng accused of stealing a purse containing six guineas, &c. The sentence of Justice do 
Jean was, that they be " hanged, hanged, hanged, and strangled till they be dead on tho 
king's domain." (the common) ; and they were hanged. Governor Hamilton and de Jean 
soon after left on a militai-y expedition to " tho Illinois," where they were made prisoners 
by Gen. George Rogers Clark, whom tho State of Virginia had sent over the AUogha- 
nies with a small force to protect the infant settlements of the west. 

Hamilton and Do Jean never returned ; had they done so, they wouhl have been tried 
for murder — as the Governor-General and Chief Justice had caused warrants to bo issued 
from Quebec for their arrest. "H.a.mtiiamck." 

COMMON SCHOOLS. 

The Common Schools of Detroit, where every child in the city can obtain the elements 
of a good English Education /rce of charge are the pride and boast of our city. 

Common Schools were first established in 1842. Previous to this time but little interest 
had been manifested in the cause of general education, and the first to take tho ini- 
tiatory steps towards the establishment of a system of general education was Dr. Zi..a 
Pitcher, who, while Mayor in 1841, called the attention of the Common Council to the 
great need of Common Schools in the city. A report was subsequently made to the 
Council which showed there were 27 English Schools, 1 French and 1 German School 
in tho city, and tho whole number of pupils about seven hundred, while there were up- 
wards of two thousand children of the proper school ago in the c'ty. 

Measures were then immediately taken to estabHsh an additional number of Schools, 
and seven others were soon opened, and urgent efforts used to persuade parents whose 
children were then roaming the streets, to send them to these Schools. In 1S42 an act 
was passed by the Legislature incorporating the various Schools of tho city into one 
District, under the style of tho " Board of Education of the City of Detroit." The Board 
is composed of two School Inspectors from each ward, one of whom is annually elected 
_ for the term of two years. 

Dr. Pitcher, distinguished and beloved for his untiring efforts in behalf of every 
interest connected with the cause of Education in this city and state, both as a member 
of the Board of Education and Board of Regents of the State University (of which until 
recently he was a member from its first establishment,) continued his efforts in behalf of 
the Common Schools without abatement and while Mayor, presided over the deliberations 
of the Board, and zealously devoted himself to developo and perfect the Free Schoo 
System. 

Dr. Pitcher had in tho late Hon. Samuel Barstow an able and devoted coadjutor. Who 
from their estabhshment up to the time of his death, (which took place July 12th, 1854,) 
was unwearied in his efforts, devoting much of his timo and talents to perfect the sys- 
tem, and establish the Schools on a permanent basis. 

To the persistent, unwearied and united eXLM-tions of Dr. Pitcher and Mr. Barstow, tho 
system in a great degree owes its present perfection. Other members of the Board de- 
serve honorable mention for their early eftbrts in behalf of the cause of Education, amon<» 
whom are George Robb, D. Bethune Duflield, Eben N. Wilcox, James V. Campbell, and 
Charles Byram, Esqs. 

Mr. Barstow was President of the Board for many years, and was succeeded by Levi 
Bishop, Esq., the present able and efficient incumbent, in wlmm the cause of Education 
has a worthy successor of the lamented Barstow. 

The Schools under tho charge of the Boai'd, are three T^nion Schools ; two Middle 
Schools ; eleven Primary Schools and one Colored School. The throe Union Schoolsjcon- 
t lin eleven departments, and have an aggregate attendance of 2,000 Scholars. 

The number of teachers employed in all the Schools, is thirty seven, of whom nine 



34 SKETCHES OF THE CITV OK DETKOIT. 

aro males, and twenty eight are females. The number of Scholars in all the Schools, 
during the past your was 5000. The expenditures for the year amounted to 15,f)2.''>,94. 
The value of the property owned by the Board is estimated at thirty-five thousand dollars. 

The Schools arc sustained by moneys annually drawn from the State School Fund, and 
by a t;ii on the real and pcreonal jiropcrty in the city. 

It is in contemplation to establish at an early day, a High School, wborj pupils may 
bo prepared for tho University Course. When this is done the system will be complete in 
form, and if carried out with the same faithfulness that has hitherto characterised the acts 
of tho Board, tho pupils in tho Detroit Common Schools will rank favorably with those of 
any other similar institiiti<in in tho country. 

Besides the Common Schools, there arc twonty-four private Schools and Seminaries in 
the city, where those who wish can educate their children ; and two excellent Commercial 
Colleges. 

Since tho foregoing was prepared, tho proceedings of tho Board of Education contain 
tho following : 

On motion of Levi Bishop, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously 
adopted : 

h'hereas, Tho late Samuel Barstow, Esq., once President of this Board, was, from the 
beginnin;;, one of tho most efficient and active promoters of tho free school system of De- 
troit, and its present st;itc of prosperity and increasing usefulness is in a large measure 
due to his unt'riiig zeal and solf-djnying laboi-s; therofore. 

Resolved, That tho newly enlar^od school building in the Seventh Ward be named in his 
honor tho "Barstow Union School." and that the Building Committee cause a marble tab- 
let to bo inserted in the vacant panel in tho front of said building, inscribed with tho 
words " Barstow Union School." 

CHrnCHTS ANDRn.IGIOl* SOCIETIES. 

Tho first house for public worship eroctod in tho city, w;is built by tho Roman Cath- 
olics, in the year 1T23, on a site now occupied by Jefferson Avenue, and directly in front 
of the Masonic Hall, and was burned with tho city in 1805. The Cathedral of St. Ann, 
erected on tho triansilo. bctwoon Larned and Congress, and Bates and Randolph streets, 
was commenced in ISlT by the Rev. Oabriid Richard; but w.is not completed until after 
his death, in 1832, though it was occupied by the Society for many years before. 

The fii-st ProtesUint Society in Detroit, w;is organiz }d by tho Methodists, in 1812. 

The firet Episcopal Society was organized in 1.S24. 

Tho first Presbyterian Church was orj.-xnizod in 1K2'> — which society erected a houfo 
of worship on the corner of Wnodward Avenue and Lariicd street, whcro the brick chunh, 
afterwards erected by them was burned in January 1H.)4. The church was constructi d 
of wood, and was removed to give place for the brick one, and is now owned and occupied 
by thn Irisli Catholic Society, anil is located on tho corner of Porter and Sixth streets, and 
is shortly to be removed to give place for a more comnindious brick edifice. 

There arc at thistimo 28 church edifices in the City, as fcdiows : 

ItO.ntN CATII«LIC. 

Cathedral of St. Ann; (French) cor Bates and Larned streets — stone. 

Cathedral of St Peter and St. Paul (Irish) comer Jefferson Avenue and St. Antoine streets 
— brick. 

St. Mary's Church, (Oorman) corner Croghan and St. Antoine streets — ibrick. 

Trinity Church, (Irish) corner Porter and Sixth street — wood. 

PnoTESTANT. 

Presbyterian Church, corner State and Farrar streets — brick. 

Presbyterian Church, comer Fort and Fourth streets — stone. 

Presbyterian Church, comor JefTorson Arenuo, near Rivard street — brick. 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROJT. 35 

PresbYtoi'iun Church, corner Lafayette and Cass streets — brick. 

Presbyterian Church, (Scotch) East Park — wood. 

Congregational Church, corner Fort and Wayne streets — brick. 

St. Paul's Church, corner Congress and Shelby streets — stone. 

Christ's Church, Jott'erson Avenue, between Hastings and Rivard — wood. 

Mariner's Church, corner Woodward Avenue and Woodbridge street — stone. 

St. Mathews Church, (colored) corner Congress and St. Autoine street — wood. 

Baptist Church, corner Foi-t and Griswold sts — wood. 

Tabernacle, Raptist. Howard, between Second and Third streets — wood. 

McfJiodist church, corner Woodward Avenue and State street — brick. 

Methodist church, corner Congress and Randoljih streets — brick. 

Methodist church.corner La Fayette and Fourth streets — wood. 

Methodist church, corner of Walnut and Seventh streets — brick. 

Metliodist church, (French) corner Rivard and Croghan streets — brick. 

Methodist cliurch, ((rcrman) corner Croghan near St. Antoine — brick. 

Methodist church, (colored) La Fayette street, near Beaubien — brick. 

New church, corner Jefferson Avenue and Beaubien street — brick. 

Unitarian church, corner La Fayette and Shelby street — brick. 

Dutch Reformed church, corner Congress near Rivard street — brick. 

Dutch Ref9rmed church, corner Croghan and St. Antoine streets — brick. 

German Lutheran church, corner Monroe Avenue and Randolph streets — brick. 

Four stone, eigliteen brick ;md six wood. 

Several religious societies destitute of houses of worship hold service in public halls, &c. 

Many of the Churches are elegant and costly edifices. The Church of St. Ann (French 
Catholic) is the oldest church in Detroit. It is l.'il feet long and GO feet wide. Tlie Ca- 
th( dral of Saints Peter and P lul (Catholic) is the largest, being ICO feet in length, 81 feet 
wide and 72 feet high. The steeple, which is not yet erected, is designed to be 200 feet 
to its top from the pavement. 

The Congregational and three Presbyterian Churches, erected within the past two year- , 
are larg^ and commodious, each capable of seating lOOO persons, and are not surpassed in 
their stylo of architecture in the western States. They were all designed and constructed 
under the superintendence of Mr. A. Jordon, architect of this city. The foUowini; is a 
description of one of them just completed: 

The Fort Street Pro-bytcrian Chjrchis built of limestone, from the quarries at Maiden, 
in the early decorated styh; of Gothic architecture. It has the principal tower on tho 
nirth-west corner, with snKill tower on tlie north-east corner, and a square tower in tho 
centre of front gable. The face work is of i ubble stono, laid in even courses, having tho 
pinnacles, moulded jambs, tracery, and other trimmings, of cut stone. Tho main tower 
is 100 feet high, and has heavy projecting buttresses on the corners, finishing against the 
belfry story in an octagonal form,and continued up above tho parapet with crocketed pin- 
nacles. Tho spire rises to the height of 130 feet above tho tower, octagonal in form, and 
enriched with boldly carved crockets on the angles. From the pinnacles on the four cor- 
ners of the tower spri.ig flying buttresses to the corners of tlio spire, pierced with pointed 
openings, and having crocketed parapets. The front is riclily decorated witli tracery, the 
hoods to windows crocketed, the gable surmounted with embattled parapet, a niche on 
either side of centre window; the centre tower finished with a pierced parapet, and richly 
crocketed pmnacles. The small tower terminates with a two story lantern, each story 
pierced with eight openings. 

Tho audience chamber is 90 feet long by 60 feet wide, lighted by si.t pointed windows 
on cacli side, and a circular window in the rear wall. It has an open roof, supported by 
six trusses spanning across the building, elaborately filled witli tracery up to tho ridge, 



36 



SKETCHES OF TUB CITT OK DETROIT. 



which is 72 feet high above the floor. The back waH i» oriiumented wHh a bundsome 

screen, having an overhanging canopy aboro the |)ulpit richly curviid ami (leoorati'd. 

Tliero are no galleries, except the one for the choir, which is ovir the restibule, and in 
which is placed u fine organ, built by Mr. George Stevens, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 
at a cost of ^l,00O. There are twelve chandeliers in the audience chamber — two suspen- 
ded from [londants of each roof truss — forming a pleasing coup d'lril. 'J'here are a centre 
and two side aisles to the church, and one hundred and ninety slips, cajiable of sealing 
1,000 pei'sons. The basement story is 11! feet high, containing u lecture mom, which will 
seat 400, .Sabbath and infant school nxims, pastor's study, two furnace and fuel rooms. 

The cost of the edifice and its finishings is 8^70,000. It has been built from the designs 
of Messrs. O. & A. Jordan, of this city, under the superintendence of Mr. A. Jordan. 
'I'ho contraetoi-s were, for tho mason work, Mr. Thos. Fairbaim : car|i(nters' woik, Messrs. 
McDurt'& Mitchell : jilastering Messrs. Itowe & Boyd; painting. Messrs. Ciodfrey, i)eai) jc 
Liable. The furnaces wore furnished by Messrs. Dudley & Holmes. 

CEnETFUItS. 

Tho first Roman Catholic Cemetery was situatetl where the Masonic Ilall, now stands; 
and was used as such from 1723 until tlio year 1810, when the Ciovernor and Judges granted 
to the corporation of St. Ann, the public triangle in section one for the purpose of crectmg 
a church thereon, and sixteen city lots north of the same for a burying grounil. 

Here the remains of Col. llamtramck repose. His tomb boars the following inscription :— 

"Sacred to the memory of John Francis llamtramck, Ysty, Col. of the 1st. U. S. Uegiment 
of Infantry, and commandant of Detroit and its dependencies. He departed thislile, on the 11th 
of April, 1803, aged 45 years 7 months and 28 days. True p;itriotism and zealous attach- 
ment to national liberty, joined to a laudable ambition, led him into militai'y service at an 
early period of his life. He was a soldier even before he was a man. 

Ho was an active participator in all the dangere, difficulties and honors of the Revolu- 
tionary War. And his heroism and uniform good conduct, procured him the attention and 
poi'sonal thanks of the immortal Washington. The I'Mited States in him have lost a val- 
u ible ollicor and a good citizen, and society an useful and pleasant member To bis fami- 
ly the loss is inc.ilculablc : and his friemls will never forget the memory of llamtramck. 
This humble monument is placed over his remains by the officers who had the honor to 
servo under his commaad: a small but grateful tribute to his m'rit and his worth." 

This groinid was used until about 182fi, when the Society pureh.-»sed a lot on the Antoino 
Beaiibien farm, near tho tiratiot road, for a Cemetery ; and interments were made there 
until about the year 1846, when they purcli;ised a large and handsomely located lot of land 
in tho town of llamtramck, about two miles above tho city, which is called " Mount Klliott." 
Tlio Protestant burying ground in an early <lay, was on the north side of Lanieil street, and 
oast of Woodward Avenue, now occui>ied by the Holmes' Block, Water Works' Office, Sec. — 
The military burial ground occupied most of thesijuaro formed by Fort. Shelby, Lafayette 
and (iriswold streets. Xo interments were mailo thereafter 1S27 ; ami in l.''2S, on re- 
moving the Fort, the remains were taketi u]i and removed to anew ground. The burial 
ground on tho corner of Lamed Street and Woodward Avenue, continued to bo used until 
about 1826, when the city purchased a lot adjoining tho Catludic ground, on the Antoine 
Beaubinn farm ; and also in 1834, about lifty acres of land for a cemetery ontheGouin 
farm, north of tho ( Jratiot road, part of which was laid out into small lots and sold. This 
ground is still used as tho City burial gronml. 

ELnWOOD. 

This beautiful and sequestered Cemetery lies in tho Township of llamtramck. about two 
miles from the City Hall, and occupies about sixty-five acres of land, well diversified, of 
light and porous soil, well adapted to its design. 

Tho ground was purchased in tho spring of tho year 184G. llio fit improvements, such 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 37 

as teiicins, laying out drives and walks, and platting into lots, proceeded during the sum- 
mer ; a tiisteful English Cottage, designed as a residence for the Superintendent, was 
erected, anil in October of that year, it w,-is opened for the interment of the departed. It 
afterwards became Incorporated by act of the Legislature. The following persons consti- 
ituted the first Board of Officers elected under the act of incorporation, viz : 

A. D. Frasee was elected President ; John Owen, Treasurer ; Henry Ledyard, Socre- 
fcity ; Henry Ledtabd and Chaeles C. Trowbridoe, Executive Committee. 

The following is the list of original subscribers : 

Douglass & Walker. John A. Welles, Henry H. Brown, H. P. Baldwin. Henry Ledyard, 
Gea E. Hand, J. M. HowanJ, Franklin Moore, Hallock & Raymond, A. W. Bucl, Georgo 
P. Porter, J. S. Parrand, George Foote, C. C. Trowbridge, John Owen, F. Buhl, W. A. 
Raym^nd, J. N. Elbert, D. Smart, C. Morse, J. A. Van Dyko, H. H. Emmons, J. S. Jen- 
ness, Edward Lyon, Harmon DeGrafF, Samuel Coit, Shubael Conant, S. P. Brady, Fred- 
erick Wetmore, J. W. Tillman, E. Fiu-nsworth, George C. Bates, Charles S. Tripler, W. 
N. Carpenter, A. S. Kellogg, E. Eldred, Z. Chandler, D. Cooper, J. G. Hill, G. R. Russell, 
A. S. Williams. A. H. Adams, C. H. Avejy. George Hill, John Drew, E. P. Hastings, C. 
Howard, C. G. Hammond, A. S. Porter, T. Romeyn, A. D. Fraser, J. F. Joy, W. Trues- 
dall, J. Winder E. A. Wales, James V. Campbell. Darius Lamson, J. A. Hicks, Luther 
Beecher, M. F. Dickinson, Henry Doty. Samuel Barstow, Thomas W. Lockwood, Richard 
H. Hall, Pierre Teller, D. Goodwin, B. F. Larned, Robert Dcrmont, DeGarmo Jones, 
Michigan Lodge Xo. 1. by A. S. Kellogg, AVayno Lodge No. 2. by A. S, Kellogg, Wa- 
we-a-tonong Lodge No. 12. by A. S. Kellogg, Moses P. Hutchius, J. H. Farnsworth, Al- 
esandei- Goodell, T. H. Hinchman, William S. Lee^ Bela Hubbard, A. Clark, J. L. King. 

Since the original purchase, twenty-five acres has been added, on the N. W. side, extend- 
ing ahjng upon the sides of the i-avico, adding largely to the interesting feature, and 
capabilities of the place. 

Here, beneath the shade of the old towering elms, whose name it bears, wUI sleep, as 
they pass away, the generations who have peopled Detroit. 

*'fff.re on LMs spat, 
'' hrre manij ^eiter^'tions sleep fitr^tit, 
Vpf'om MiHetiimb and ffrassy ijuiund, 
TItere ciimetk on the ear a peaceful sound. 
Which liids us he ctintcnted with out lot, 
And suffer calmly,^' 

The mild bre;ith of Spring blows gently across the grave of youth and beauty, the gor- 
geous summer cooies up and st;uids in her pride around the tomb of maturity, and the wind 
of autumn sighing drearily, scatters the yellow leaves over the last resting place of those 
who have gone down in the fulness of years, and winter comes, last in its time, clasping all 
like death itself, in its dumb cold embrace. 

If it indicates a geotle spirit, and hearts open to the influences of elevated humanity 
to cherish and beautify the graves of lost love — to honor the useful and good, and to fresh- 
en the remembrance of the sweet and lovely in life, then hae Detroit furnished such evi- 
dence in her ch;iste, secluded, picturesque and beautiful Elmwood. 

WATER WOItKS. 

A supply of pure water is essential to the hoaltti, and therefore to the prosperity of any 
city. The citizens of Detroit may well congratulate themselves upon having a water works, 
which furnishes an abundant supply of as pure water as any in the world, conveying it into 
their very dwellings, and at rates far cheaper than any other city. The water is taken from 
the river above the city and forced by two stesm engines into an iron reservoir 60 feet in 
diameter and 20 feet deep, elevated on a circular brick tower 50 feet in height from wliich 
it is distributed ihi'oughout the city, by naeans of iron and wood pi]>es. 

The soil upon which the city is built, being mostly impenneaijle clay, the water pro- 
cured by wells, is, with occasional and few .exceptions, surface, and not spring water, and 



38 SKETCHES OF TUB CITY OF DETROIT. 

contains a large j)iT oont. of organic matter, greatly incrcjised in the ncighborliooj of 
drains and sewti"s, and which therefore constitutes a serious objection to its use. Its analy- 
sis showed that it contained llC grains of compound ingi'cdients to a gallon, while a gal- 
lon of water taken from these works exhibited but about 5 grains ; the compound of 
the river water being composed mostly of silica, allumina, and iron, elements that can 
produce little or no injury ; while the solid matter of the well water cont;iincd a largo 
quantity of chloride of sodium, chloride of potassium, and magnesium, the two latter be- 
ing cathartic in their projiorties. The analysis also shows that the water of the river, 
drawn from the great northern lakes, and from which the works are supplied, is founil 
as pure and free from mineral substance as almost any body of water in the world. 

In 1836, the city purchased the works, which had been ostahlishcd by individual enter- 
prise, ten rears before, and ex])ended upon them about ©120,000. In 1852, at which time 
they had cost the city the sum of $200,000, over and above all receipts, they were placed 
under the management of a bo;ird of Trustees, who wore subsequently, by ait of the Leg- 
islature, inorpoi-ate<l as a board of Commissioners. Up to the 1st of January last, the 
Commissioners had expended, in reconstructing and enlarging the works, the sum of 
$271,000. The amount of their ordinary receipts over ordinary expenditures was $-ll.COC — 
making the amount expended for construction over receipts 8229,400, which addeil to the 
amount before expcndeil by the Common Council, shows the tot;d cost of the works to Jan- 
uary 1st, 1855, to be ^495,400. 

In 18.S8, when the works were first regularly conducted by the city, the assessmert'' 
amounted to S3,G7C, and the number of assessments to C13. In 1845 the assessments 
were $0,488, and the number wjis 1,251. In 1854, the assessments were 831.840, and tho 
number was .'),872. Tho assessment of 1854 exceeded that of tlie previous year by more than 
S3,O0O, and tho assessment for IJ-'S.), is ?3G.l84 — being an incrcaso of S4,344 over las> 
year, an<l 6C3 more families are supplied with water from tho works, than there wore 
one year ago ; while there is no doubt that this ratio of incrcaso will continue for many 
yo .18, on the lines alone of pipes now laid. There are now 27 miles of iron and about 14 
miles of wooden pipes. It would be a low figure to estimate the amount of assessment 
from the pipes now laid at SjO.OOO annually, when the lines are filled by buildings — an 
event, at the present rate of construction, not far otf. Tho extension of pipes will at tho 
same time be required in new districts, which are fast being settled. There arc now at 
least one thousand families living beyond the reach of water from thcpO works, who pro- 
cui-e but a scanty supply from wells. 

The population of tho city having double<l in tho hist four years, and the receipts for 
water nearly so, it would bo safe to estimate that the population and receipts for water will 
double in the next five years. So that by tho time tho loan recently made, of $250,000 is 
expended in extending tho works, tho revenue from tho water would not only jiay the an- 
nual interest and ordinary expenses, hut leave a largo surplus annually to go into a sinking 
fuml pledged to the extinguishment of tho debt. 

Tho works are owned by tho city, and managed by a Board of Commissionere, chosen by 
tho Common Council. Tho water mtcs aro not fixed by any law, but are graduated by tho 
Board to meet tho requirements properly belonging to them. 

The present minimun price for families, is four dollars per annum, a fi^action over one cen< 
per day whic'i it is believed, is lower than that established by any other water works in tho 
union. Tho project of sup]dyiinr the inhabitant-s with water, by means of water works 
was agitated at an early day. In 1820 a proposition was made to the Trustees by Mr 
John W. Tomkins to furnish tho city with water, but no action was had ou tho proposi- 
tion by tho Board, except ordering it pl.ved on file, thonch sulsequently frequent di.<cus- 
sions were h.id. Nothing decisive was .idoptcd until 1.S25. when a Water Works wils com- 
menced by Mr. Bathuel Farrand under an act passed by tho Common Council granting 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 39 



him "the sole and exclusive right of watering the city," and in 1827 the citizens were first 
furnished with water from the works. The water was raised by two pumps of 5 inches 
hero, driven by horse power into a forty gallon cask, at the top of a cupola, from which it 
was conducted through tamarack logs to a reservoir 16 feet square and six feet deep, sit- 
uated on the lot now occupied by the Firemen's Hall, corner of Jefferson Avenue and 
Bates street. The pump was at the foot of Randolph street, on lot 25, Berthlet's sub- 
division, adjoining French & Eldred's Carding Mill. In 1829 other parties became inter- 
ested in the works, and a Company was organised under an oi-dinance passed by the 
Common Council, which company was subsequently incorporated by the LogisL-xtivo Coun- 
cil. The company made an effort to obtain a supply of water by boring into the earth in 
1820, and bored a hole of four inches in diameter to the depth of 2G0 feet, on a lot at the 
S.E. copier of Fort and Wayne streets, ten foet of alluvial earth was first passed through, 
next a stratum of tenacious marly clay with veins of quick sand 115 feet, 2 feet of beach 
sand with pebble stones succeeded, and rock was then struck. It consisted of a stratum 
of neodiferous lime rock CO feet in depth. Tlio auger then penetrated sixty-five feot into 
'ias, in the course of which it fell into a cavity 21 inches in depth. A stratum of carbon- 
ate of lime, impregnated with salt, in a rather friable and yielding form succeeded, which 
■was considered a subordinate bed in the lias, for the latter was again found below it, and the 
boring continued eight feet, when no water was obtained and the project abandoned. 

In 1830 the Company constructed a reservoir 18 feet square and 9 feet deep on the 
same lot. The water was pumped into it by means of a ten horse power engine, driving 
a rotary pump, and was forced through a three inch iron pipe. The Company continued 
to extend their works and made every effort to supply the inhabitants with water in the 
face of an increasing pecuniary loss and the complaints of the public, until 1836, when they 
were purchased by the city. The city projected the present works, and the construc- 
tion commenced in 1837. In 1841 the "Xew Works" were so far brought into use as to 
sup]ily water to the Fort Street reservoir. In 1842 the present iron reservoir was brought 
into use, and the Fort Street reservoir abandoned. The works were conducted by a Supei-- 
intendent annually appointed by the Council, until the Spring of 1849, when ho was elect- 
ed at the Charter Election. For several years there had been many complaints of an ir- 
regular and insufficient supply of water, and discussions and debates were had as to tie 
best policy to be pursued. Many were in favor of the sale of the works. In February 
1852 the Common Council passed an ordinance by which the control and management 
of the works were vested in a Board of Trustees, and Shubacl Conant, Henry Ledyard, 
Edmund A Brush, James A. Van Dyke and William R. Noyes, were appointed Trustees. 
The Board at once determined to re-construct the works on an enlarged scale. In the 
moan time relief was afforded to several sections of the city by the extension of iron dis- 
tribution pipes. 

In February 1853, an act was passed by the Legislature, incorporating the "Board of Wa- 
ter Commissioners of the City of Detroit," and naming the gentlemen who composed the 
Board of Trustees as Commissioners with power to loan S{f 250,000. The Board of Commis- 
sioners was organized on the IGth of May following, the loan was soon affected, and the 
money obtained, when the work of reconstruction commenced, and seven and a-half miles 
of iron pipes were laid ; fifty-four new fire hydrants erected, and twenty-nine stop cocks 
put in before the close of the season. The Board .also purchased 10 acres of land on the 
Dequindre farm, on the summit, north of the Gratiot road, about one and a-half miJes 
from the river, for the purpose of constructing thereon a new reservou". 

NEW RESERVOIR. 

In 1854 the work was resumed, and the construction of a new reseiToir commerced, 
and about one-third of the work accomplished during the year. The reseiToir is to be 



40 



BKBTCIIES OF TUB CITY OF DETROIT. 



constructed in two basins — by raising earth embankments to a height of thirty feet. 
Tlicpniliunkmonls -.ire to bo 103 feet through at the base, and 15 feet at the top, in the cen- 
tre of wiiich a pinldied wall IG feet at the base, and 8 feet at the top. The slopi-s of the 
embankment outside are to bo sodded and set with evergreens, and inside fii-st lined with 
concrete and then paved with brick. A (light of stone steps will be built on the inside slope 
of either basin fi-oni the ten-ace to the bottom. The terrace on the top to bo gravelled, and 
a fence constructed on tho inner side around tho basins. Either basin will bo 200 feet 
square at the top. 114 J feutat the bottom. Tho two basins covering ne.nrly 4 acres. Tho 
t ip water line will be 50 tt. above tho intersection of Jefferson and Woodw.ird Avenues, and 
"7J feet above tho river. The total storage of tho two basins will bo 7,,')92,704 imperial 
gallons. Tho tcrnico at the top will bo reached by a flight of stone stops ; at tho base, 
one or more fountains will constantly jet forth streams of water. When completed, it 
will afford a commanding view of the city and surrounding country, and a delightful pi-om- 
oiiado for ploiisuro. 

The water is to be forced up to tho reservoir by a powerful cornish stc;im ongino, through 
an iron pipe, 24 inches interior diameter. Tho water will bo distributed through a 24 inch 
pipe, extending from the reservoir to the western line of the city, connecting with all tho 
p'pes in streets running at right angles from the river A stand pipe is to bo erected at tho 
oigino house wharf, inside of a brick tower, 115 feet in heigh. Tho top of the tower will 
be reached by a flight of stairs inside, around the pipe. Tho top of the tower will be about 
forty feet above the reservoir, and afford a fijio view of tho City, Lake St. Clair and sur- 
rounding country. 

When tho summit reservoir is completed, it is contemptlated to abandon tho use of tho 
one at the river. 

It is expected that the new works will bo entirely com|detcd within the next two years 
and it is cstimateil that the Boanl now have tho necessary amount of money toaccomjjlish 
it. They having recently neuoeiated a further loan of 1*250,000 tinder authority of an 
act of the Legislature passed February 6. 1855. 

During the year 1854 the present works distributed 314.392,655 gallons. Tho greatest 
number of gallons distributed in any one month was .S3.4r)S,222, and the works now be- 
ing built are designed to bo capable of supplyiug 3,000,000 gallons in twelve hours, eijual 
to 90,000,000 gallons per month. 

lion, .lames A. Van Dyke, a zealous and efficient member of tho board, from its firet or- 
ganization, and who for many years previous wiis intimately connected with our city affairs, 
as City ,\ttorney. Alderman, Mayor of tlio city, and President of the Fire Department, and 
thoroughly aciiuainted with all the concerns of tho community, and devoting much of his 
tiiiio and talents, devising and forn;irdin<j i)lans which li.-\ve from time to time been adopted 
for advancing tho prosperity of tho city, w;is removed by death on tho 8th day of May 
1855. 

Hon. .Alexauiler D. Fraser, on whoso report to tho Common Council while Recorder of 
the city, in 18^50, the city purch;iseil the water works, w.is appointed a Commissioner by tho 
Common Council to till tho vacancy occasioned by tho death of Mr. Van Dyke. Tho fol- 
lowing gentlemen now compose tho Board of Commissioners: Edmund A. Brush, Shubaol 
Conant, Henry Lodyard, .Mexander D. Fniser and William II. Noyes, and the Ollicei'S are 
Ednnnid A. Brush, President, R. E. Roberts, Secretary, and Jacob Houghton, Jr., Super- 
intendent and Kuirinecr. 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 



41 



The following statement shotvs the increase of Assessments from year to year since the 
purchase of the Works by the Ci'.y, and is designed to show the groiclh of the City, 
and increasing demand vpon the H'orks rather than the Revenue. 

The assessments for the year 1838, 1839. and 1840, were 

irregukir, one year running into the other. The asrnre- 

aate amount of reeiipts of those years was SiflLOSO 00 

or an average of 3,676 66 

Assessment of 1841, ; m lunted to ,5 446 00 



1S42, 
1843, 
1844, 
1845, 
1846, 
1S47, 
1848, 
1849, 
iS.oO, 
1851, 
1852, 
185:^, 

1S,5J, 
1855. 



.'3,086 00 — increase of S 240 00 

7,16.3 18 « ],477 IS 

8710 50 " 1..547 ,32 

9,488 34 " 777 84 

10.396 00 " 907 CO 

9,832 18— decrease of 563 82 

10,7.S8 00— increase of 905 82 



12633 00 '• 1,895 00 

" 15 612 00 " 2,979 00 

19,756 00 " 4.144 00 

" 25,348 00 ■ " 5.592 00 

" 28,617 00 « 3.269 00 

" .31,840 00 " 3,223 00 

36.184 00 " 4,344 00 

Increase of the numher of Assessments far the past ten years. 

Asssssments in 1845. Assessments in 185.5. 

Families, 915 5,282 

Tavmis 23 48 

Stores. Offices and Shops, 215 1,028 

Railr a 1 Depots, 2 3 

Brewings, 2 17 

St:iti( nars' Steam Engines, 2 40 

Mills, Factories, <fcc., 92 222 

'lotal, 1,251 6 640 

CO.nPARATIVE PUKITV OF ^VATER. 

The follcwing ttible shows the solid matter in a gallon of water taken from lakes, rirers 
and wells, i i djff.'rent cities: 





Grains 




Uiaiiis 


LAKES AND RIVERS. 


solid 


WELLS. 


sol ill 




mnttpi- 




matter 



T„_ , S Thames Eiver, 

Loi-lon. J New River, ..: 


28,000 
10.200 
G.008 
G,320 
7,880 
2,307 
1,850 
0,092 
4,200 
1,330 
4,100 
11,210 
e,73fi 
5,722 


Pari.s — Artesian Well 


0,800 

125,000 

58,000 

10,240 

30 000 




^'^^^"'^' Average several! 

i Lydius Street Well 

Aiv,=„„ J'*'* State House Well, 

Albany, ) j;,;^.hanpe Well 




Tidv X Y. — Mohawk Kiver 


Brooklyn — .\ verago Long I. Ponds, 

Boston — Cochitnate Lake, .. 


04,080 
05,620 
48,833 
50,055 


' Capitol Park Well, 


Bridgejiort, Ct. — Peqnomock River, 

Philadelphia— Sknvlkill River, 


Brooklyn — Average several Wells, 

r Beacon Hill Well 


( Henilock Lake, 


Boston, } Tromont Street Well, 


20,000 






50,800 


(Genesee River, 

Cincinnati — Ohio River, 


Rochester, X. Y. — Average several 

Detroit — Park Lot Well, 


30,000 
110,101 


Detroit — Detroit River, 





Of the Detroit river water. Prof Douglass, in his report of the analysis, says : That it 
contains less solid matter in the gallon than either tlio Croton or Cincinnati water, but 
more than tlie Fairmouth or Long Pond water. In estimating the value of your city 
water, as compai-ed with water of other cities, duo allowance must ho made for the fact 
that the total solid matter is materially increased by the presence of silicia, allumina, and 
iron, elements that can produce little or no injury, while the chlorides, much the most inju- 



42 SKETCHES OF THE CITV OF DETROIT. 


rious compounds, arc entirely absent. The presence of such large quanlitios of silica auJ 


iron, is accounted for by the fact that Lake Superior and Huron arc formed, fur the most 


part, in a basin of ferreginous sandstone and i<rneovis rock. 


Of Poiroit well water, he says : The large quantity of chloride of sodium, (common 


salt.) chloride of potasium and magnesium found in it, clearly indicate its surface origin. 


The two last salts are cathartic in their properties, and the hnbitual use of water, holding 


them in solution, in any considerable <iu:intitics, must prove injurious to health. 


BEAD OF WATER. 


The theoretic head of watev, in various localities, from tho present reservoir when it is 


full, is as follows : 


At the corners of feet 


At the corners of feet 


Jetfcrsou Ave. and Third street, 63 


Woodward Ave. and .\twater street, 60 


" •' Citfs street. 48 


WiiodbridLTC st„ .t1 


« " Wavnc street, 41 


" Jitlirson Ave., 40 


" " Shelby street, 38 


« " Larned street, 42 


« " Woodward Ave.. 40 


" '• Congress street, 4G 


« " St. Antoinc street, 39 


" Fort street, 43 


« " Hastiiiits street, 37 


" " State street, 40 


« " Rivard street, 34 


" " Clifford street, 4S 


« " Russell street, 40 


'• " Circus street, 41 


" « Riopelle street, 42 


" " A lams Avenue, 3S 


« " Orleans street, 45 


" ' H;gh street, 34 


Fort street and Eighth street, 47 


Siblev street, 29 


" " Sixth street, 45 


Toll gate, 14 


" " Fifth street, 43 


North city lino, 10 


« " Fourth street, 41 


I^afayette street and Eighth street, 41 


" Third street, 30 


" '• Seventh street. 40 


« " Second street, 35 


" " Fourth street, 38 


" " Wavue street, 32 


" '■ C;iss street, 35 


" " Shelby street, 33 


Michigan Avenue and Seventh street 42 


" " GrisHold street, 37 


" " Third street, 45 


" " Rand(>l])h stroi'ts, 48 


" " First street, 42 


Gratiot street and Randolph street, 39 


" Shelby street, 40 


" Beaubien stnot, 40 


« " Griswold street, 39 


" " Ihistings street, 37 


" " Hates street, 46 


" " Rivard street, 29 


Congress street and Seventh streets. 61 


" " Russell street, 25 


" Sixth street, 62 


" " Orleans street, 21 


" " Fourth street, .'".5 


Brush and Macomb streets, 39 


" Third street, 51 


•' " Gratiot street, 40 


'• '■ First street. 47 


" " Columbia street, 34 


" Wayne street, 45 


" High street, 29 


" " Gristtold stretit, 47 


Orleans and Atwater street, 64 


" Bates street, 43 


" " Woodbridgo street, 64 


■' " Brush street, 45 


•' " .lefferson Avenue, 45 


" " l*eaubien street, 1 1 


" " I-urnod street, 44 


" '• St. Antoine St., 45 


" " Crot,'han street, 41 


'" " Hoistings Street, 40 


" Mullett street, 36 


" liussoU street, 44 


" " Hi^'h street, 28 


At Grand Circus, 40 


" " (iratiot street, 21 


" Centre Park, 38 


" « Scott street, 18 


« Capitol Park, 40 


" " Hale street, 17 


" W.'st I'ark, 44 


" " St. Joseph street, 15 


" East Park, 43 


" North Park 4l 


" CraHf.>rdrark, 41 


" Campus Martins, 43 


" Elton Park, 34 


Comer Si.\th and Grand River sts., 33. 


GAS L,IUHT. 


Detroit is well lighted with Gas, which is supplied by an incorporated Company, who 


have erected very extensive works on tho river, near tho eastern lino of tho City. Gaa 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 43 



pipes extend through most of tho pviucipal streets, at present, and the Company arc con- 
stantly extending them into new districts. There are ah-eady over twelve hundred Street 
Lamps set, for the purpose of lighting the city at night and wo noto wonder how thty got 
along at night, in cities without gas. 

• PAVF.OTENT.S AND SETTERS. 

All the Streets and Avenues in the business ))ortion of tho city arc paved with stone, 
making in the agregate about 13 miles of paved streets, and, tho work of paving is pro- 
gi'cssing, and will continue until every street is pavod. 

A proper system of sewerage is of vital importance to the prosperity of any city. As a 
preventive of sickness, as a matter of economy and comfort addresses itself to every cit- 
izen. The subject engaged tho early attention of the authorities of tho city, and a large 
stone and brick sewer was constructed along tho track of tho creek which foi'merly run 
through the low grounds between Jefferson Avenue and Fort street. Since which time 
a number of sewers have been constructed in various sections of tho city. The sewers 
are constructed of brick, and are circular, from 3 to 5 feet diameter. They are con- 
structed by the city, and paid for out of a fund raised by general tax for that pmpose, 
and premises drained into them, subjected to an annual "Sower Tax." 

P1.ANK ROA^S. 

There are seven Plank Eoads loading from the city into the country, the aggregate length 
of which is about 300 miles ; they are : 

The Detroit and Grosse Point, Detroit and Erin, Detroit and Birmingham, Detroit and 
Howell, Detroit and Saline, Detroit and Monroe, Detroit and Plymouth. 

THK RIVER. 

The Detroit River is 25 miles in length, between lakes St. Clair and Eric, average width 
one mile, depth fathoms, current 2 miles an hour, and it is estimated that at this veloc- 
ity at a transverse section, opposite the city, whore it is contracted to about 53 chains it 
discharges 190,270,080 cubic feet per hour, or 3,171,168 cubic feet per minute. 

There arc seventeen islands in the river. The names of these are, "Clay," "C61eron/' 
" Hickory," " Sugar," " Bois Blanc," " Elba," "Fox," " Rock,"" Stoney," " Grosse," " Turkey,'' 
" Fighting," " Mammy Judy," " Grassy," " Mud," " Belle" and " Peach." The two latter are 
situated a few miles above, and within sight of the city, near the entrance to Lake ■'5t. Clair 
The largest of which is Belle Isle (formerly Hog Island). Peach Island was the home of 
Pontiac. Parkman in his " History of the Conspiracy of Pontiac," says, " Pontiae, the Satan 
of this forest paradise, was accustome 1 to spend tho early part of the summer upon a smal' 
island at tho opening of Lake St. Clair, hidden from view by the high woods that covered 
the intervening *Isle au Cochou. 

"ITio king and lord of all this country," ^is Rogers calls him, "lived in no royal st.ato. 
His cabin was a small, oven-shaped structure of bark and rushes. Here he dwelt with his 
squaws and children; and here, doubtless, he might often have been seen, carelessly recli- 
ning his naked form on a rush mat, or a boar skin, like an ordinary warrior." 

The other fiftoeu islands are situated within tho first twelve miles of the rivor, after enter- 
ing it from Like Erie, some of which are in viow of the city. The largest of which is Grosse 
Isle, on which are a number of large and well cultivated farms. This island is a very popu- 
lar retreat for citizens of Detroit during the boat of summer. On some of tho others there 
are extensive stone quarries; and on many of those, as well as Belle Isle and Peach, are ex- 
tensive fisheries, where large quantities of white fish are annually taken. Father Hennepin' 
who was a passenger on the "Griffin," the first vessel that crossed Lake Erie, in 1(579, in 
his description of the scenery along the route, says," the islands are the finest in the world; 
the strait is finer than Niagara; the banks are vast meadows and the prospect is terminated 

*Now Belie Isle. ' 



44 



SKETCHES OF THE CITr OF OETIIOIT. 



with some hills coTcrod with vineyards, trees bearing good fruit, groves and forests so well 
disposeil, that one would tliink that nature alone could not have mido, without the help of 
art, so charming a prospect" The streams emptyini; into the »(rai(, arc, on the Canada side, 
the river aux Canards, and on the Anicrican shore, the IIuron,rivor, Monquagon crei'k, river 
Ecorse, river Rouge, May's creek, below the city, aini Bloody Hun and Connor's crock above. 

The vilagcs on the Canada shore, are Amorstbur^Ii, near tlic entrance to Lake Erie. Sand- 
wich, about three miles below Detroit, and Windsor directly opposite the city. On tlio 
American shore, Gibralter, opposite Aniherstburgh, Trenton opposite Grosse Isle, and Wyan- 
dotte, about ten miles below the city. 

Fort Maiden is situated just above the village of Amoretburijli, in Canada : an<l Fort Wayne 
is situated on the American shore, on the Sand Hill, about three miles below the city. 

THE CLI.tlATE. 

The climate of Detroit is temperate ; snow falls at from six to eighteen inches deep, and 
never remains more than a few weeks. The transition from the coUl of sjtring to the 
heat of summer is rapid; from summer to winter gradual and prolonged. As general 
characteristics, the spring is wet and prolonged ; summer dry ; autumn mild ; winter cold 
and dry. The average temperature in the spring is 50 Faronheit ; summer 80 ; winter 
20 ; autumn CO to C5. 

ELEVATIONS. 

The elevations of dfforcnt localities in the city, above the Detroit River is as follows: 

" ~" "■ - .. Seventli " 20 

" Eiirhth " 19 

Woodward Avenue from tho 

Kiver to tho north lino of tho 

city. 

At Atwater street. fl 

" Woodbridge st 1.5 

" Jolfei-son Ave., 26 

" Larned street, 25 

" Congress ■' 20 

" Fort " 2.'? 

" State " 26 
" firand River St., 24 

" Clittord street, 2^ 

" Grand Ciiciisst. ?.5 

" Adams .\vcnue, 28 

" Elizalx^th street, 2.S 

" Montcalm •' 29 

•' Hii;h " .•?2 

" Henry " 35 

" Sihiev " .'J7 

" Toll Gate. .lO 

" North line city, 58 

Gratiot Road at Orle;»ns 

St.. 45 

Tho country back of tho city grailually rises until it roaches at nirminu'hain, 18 milos 
from the city, an elevation of 200 feet above tho Detroit River, and I'oiitiac 2-5 miles 
north of tho city, is 380 feet above the river, and tho Detroit and Milwaukee Rail Road 
passes over an elevation of 400 feet between Detroit and Pontiac. 
FIRI S-.FIRE DEPAKT.TIENT. 

Few cities of its sizo have suffered by fire to the same extent as the city of Detroit 
has. In 1704 an atl<!inpt w,is made by the Indians to destroy it by fire who partly suc- 
coeilod. In 1805 it was almost entirely consumed (but ono house escapcfl.) In IS."?' 
nearly four squares in the business part of tho city were destroyed. In 1842 one of tho 
best business squares in tho city was entirely swept off, and in 1848 four squares were 



.Jefferson Avoinie 


fr 


om the 


" Shelby 


t{ 




31 


Michigan Central R. 


R. 


Depot 


" Wavno 


It 




31 


to the east line of the 


<'itv at 


'• Ciis's 


it 




31 


tho intersection of 


different 


" Fii-st 


it 




31 


sts. 






" Second 


n 




29 


At Third street, 




4 ft. 


" Third 


tl 


30 




" Second " 




r> 


" Fourth 


l( 


29 




" First 




6 


" Fifth 


(1 


29 




'■ Cass 




18 


" Sixth 


ti 


2S 




" Wayne " 




25 


" Seventh 


u 


26 




" Shelby " 




28 


" Ei_dith 


u 


25 




" Griswold " 




28 


Fort sti-eet 


from Woodward 


'■ Woodward Ave. 




26 


Avenue to tho west line 


of the 


" Rates street. 




2fi 


city. 








" liaiidolph street, 




20 


At Woodward Ave 




23 ft 


" Urush street. 




26 


" Griswold street, 




29 


" Reaubien street, 




26 


" Shelby 


u 




33 


" St. Antoine '• 




27 


" Wayne 


(1 




34 


" Hastings " 




29 


" Cass 


ti 




33 


" Rivard 




31 


" First 


it 




33 


" Russell " 




26 


" Second 


(( 




31 


" Rinpelle " 




2.^ 


" Tbinl 


(( 




27 


" drleans 




20 


" Fourth 


tt 




2.5 


Lafayette Street. 






■• Fifth 


4( 




23 


At Griswold st-eet, 




27 


" Sixth 


it 




21 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 45 

burnt over, in the centre of the city. Besides these several very severe and calamitious fires 
miuht be enumerated. The first Fire Engine Company was organized in 1815, and the en- 
gine used by this Comjjany was talccn from Commodore Perry's Flag Shi|i — previous to 
this a "bag, bucket and battering ram comp'y" had been organized, and the inliabitants were 
required under penalty to keep on their respective in'emisos a certain ([uantity of water 
in a wooden cask arranged with handles and provided with a polo so that two men could 
sling it upon their shoulders and convey it to a fire. Each house was to bo provided with 
a ladder and a certain number of buckets. 

The first engine purchased by the city was purchased in 1825 by Hon. J. R. Williams, 
then Mayor of Detroit, to man which a coni]iany was organized and called "Protection 
Engine Company No. 1." In 1827 another Engine was procured and a Company organ- 
izeil to man the same, which was called "Eaglo Company No. 2." In 1840 the Fire Depar- 
tment con^ised of Four Engine Companies : "Protection No. 1," "Eagle No. 2," '-Wolver- 
ine No. 3," "LaFayette No. 4,"' one Hose Company, "Hurlbut No. 1,'' and one Hook, Ladder 
and Axe Company. 

The Legislature in 1840, gi-anted a charter to the Department — the officers named in 
the act were Robert E. Roberts, President; Frederick Buhl, Vice President; Edmund R. 
Kearsley, Secretary ; Darius Lamson, Treasurer, and Elijah Goodell, Collector. The fire- 
men of the city having previously organized the Depi-rment and elected the foregoing per- 
sons as officers. 

Subseciuentlv thefoUowinggentlemcnhavebeen elected to and discharged the duties of 
President: John Owen, Chauncy Hurlbut, David Smart, J. A. Van Dyke, Eben N. Wilcox, 
and Jidin Patton. 

Shortly after the organization of the Department an effort was made to raise a fund 
ostensibly for the benefit of widows and orph.-ms of members of the Department. A small 
amount was at first realized, but this was carefully fostered and loaned on interest, which' 
with the amount received from the annual balls, given by the Department, the annual 
donations from citizens, which were always liljcral, the fund in 1849, besides the amount 
paiii for relief, amounted to something over $G,000. with which was purchased a lot; and 
it was determined to erect thereon a Hall. Proposals were received, and it was ascer- 
tained that' to erect a suitable building would cost $15,000. The firemen at once deter- 
mined to erect the building-, and authorized the President, Hon. James A. Van Dyke, to 
effect a loan to the amount of f 8,000 secured on the property, which he accomplished, 
and the building was put under contract, relying upon the liberality of their fellow citi- 
zens to aid in completing it, and the promptness with which they came forward to their 
aid, when it was found that they had gone to the extent of their means, showed that no 
false estimate was placed on their liberality. The ladies, too, always ready to lend their 
aid to every good work, came to their rescue, and got up a Fair to increase their fund, 
fi-om which was realized a little short of $1,000 — finding a snfiicient remuneration to 
them for the labor and expense bestowed to witness the completion of an edifice, from 
which, in all after time, the firemen will derive an annual income, which will enable them 
to contribute to the widows, and education of tlie orphans of their members. 

The Hall was completed in the fall of 1851, and opened to the public, when Mad'lle Pa- 
rodi gave her first conceit in this city in it, who said of it — '■ I think it one of the very best 
that I ever sang in, and the comforablo arrangement for the performers is an admirable 
feature in the building." It is alike the monument of the liberality and gratitude of our 
citizens, for which they are distinguished, and the prudence and good management of the 
Department in fostering their means to enable them to erect it. 

The amount due on the building will soon be swept away, leaving a permanent and 
perpetual income of about S2,000 per annum, to be used for benevolent purposes, which 



46 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 



result is corUiinly gnitifying to tlio Drigiiiatore aud prujectors of the eiiterj>riso, as well as 
to all who luivo contributod either in lahor ornieans, to aceoniplish it 

David Smart Esq., is deserving of tlij gnititudo and thanks of every member of the De- 
partment, for his untiring efforts in raising the first funds which was the foundation of 
the nublo result. But to the Hon. Jaima A. Van Dyke were they i)ai-ticularly iiidobted 
for the early erection of the Hall, who (notwithstanding his own multiplied and pressing cn- 
gagcmf nts,) devoted much of his time and energies during the three years he served as 
President of the l>C'partuient, for the accomplishment of this object. On the completion 
of the Flail, Mr. Van Dyke rctirfid from the Presidency, when the Depart nent tendered 
him its "thanks for his untiring real and successful efforts in promoting its gond, and re- 
solved, as a token of their high esteem and affectionate regard to procure a full length 
portrait of him to adorn those walls he had devoted so much time to raise. The )iortrait, 
painted by the eminent artist, Ilicks, of New York, was procured and elegantly framed, at 
an expense, in all, of near seven hundred dollars. 

The following gentlemen have, in turn, held the office of Chief Engineer of the Depart- 
ment : 

Levi Cook, Xoah Sutton. Henry V. Dishrow, Theodore Williams, Cliauncy Hurlbut, 
James Stewart, William Barclay, William Duncan, Lucretius H. Cobb and John Patton. 
William Duncan present incumbent. 

The Fire Department at present consists of 8 Engines, "Protection No 1," ' Ea;;Io No. 
2," "Wolverine No. 3," "LaFayetto No. 4." "Washington No. 5," "Neptune No. fi," "Union 
No. 7,"!>nJ"Continontds No. 8," and one Hook, Ladder and Axe Company. Each of the 
several Companies h.ive very substantial brick houses, two stories high, aon:e of whom 
have vei-y elegantly furn's'ied meeting rooms. That of the " Eaglos," it is believed is not 
oicellcd by any Ft.; Company in tho United States. 

YOi;V« .■»IE.\S' SOCIETV. 

The Detroit Yoiins Men's Society was organized in January 1S4.'5, when tlio late Dr. Doug- 
lass Houghton delivered the firit lecture before the association. On lht3 "JOih. of March 
183C tho Society was incorporated by tho Legislature. 

Tho cxeiciscB of tho Society are conlinued only during tho fall and winter months, and 
consist of debates and lectures alternately one evening in every week. 

In 1850 tho Society purchased a very de.^lrable lot 48 feet front and 100 feet deep, on 
Jofferson Avenue, between Bates and Uunilolph streets, and erected a superb building there, 
on 48 by 9.1 feet On the first floor are two spacious stores, over which is their eletfai t 
Hall. The entrance to tho Hall is be ween tho two stores, over the entrance and liont part 
of tho stores are appropriate committee and library rooms. The Society have a larire aud 
well 8ele<:teil Library of about 3000 volumes. 

Tho following gentlemen have been elected to and discharged tho duties of President 
of the Society, as follows : 



In 1833, Franklin Sawyer. Jr., 
DoUL'lass llougliton. 
In 1834, Jacob M. Howard, 

Charles W. Peniiv, 
In 1835, G(^orgo C. Bates, 
Marsli^Ul J. Bacon, 
James X. Armstrong, 
In 18 •JO, John N. Talbot, 

Alexander W. Buel, 
Georire E. Hand, 
In 1837, David E. Harbuufh, 
In 1X38, Friitiklin Sawyer. Jr., 
In IKVJ, James A. Van Dyke, 
In 1H40, John U. Atterbury, 
In 1841, Samuel Barstow, 



In 1842, Jcdm S. .\bbott. 

In 184.-!, Samuel T. D.iugUiss, 

In 1S4I, .Vsher S. Kollotig, 

In lSl:->, Bola Hubbard," 

In 184'i. Witter J. Baxter, 

In 184", Thomas W. L<ickwood, 

In 184.S. .lames V. Campbell, 

In 184;), Ed C. Walker, 

In lS.-,n. I). Bethume Dullield, 

In l.S.Sl. r. Tracy Howe, 

In lf<.")'2, Ilalmor H. Knimons, 

In lH.i3, (ieorifoV. N. Lothrop, 

In 1854, Charles I. Walker, 

In 1855, Ixivi Bishop. 



sketches of the city of detroit. 47 

MKCHANICj' socijc tw 

Tho Mechanics' Society of the City of Detroit, was founded in the year 1818, and in- 
corporated hy an act of tho GoTernor and Judges of the Territory of Michigan, in 1820, 
their charter was renewed in 1839 by the State Legislature. 

The Society own a very elligibly situated lot, about ono hundred feet square on the cor- 
ner of (iriswold and LaFayctte streets, on which their Hall is situated. It is in contem- 
plation to erect on this site a large and elegant Hall. They have a well selected Libra- 
ry of about 2009 volumes, and it is the very place where every young mechanic and ap- 
prentice can store his mind with all that has been published upon the arts and sciences 
Could an arrangement be made with this and the Young Men's Society whereby their Li- 
braries could bo united, they would together form a Library unequalled in tho west, and 
such an arrangement no doubt would bo to the mutual advantage of both Societies. 

LAKE NAVIfiATION. 

L^p to 1C7!) tho lakes were only navigated by birch bark canoes. But in August of 
th:it year, tho'first vessel that ever crossed Lake Erie, an-ived at Detroit. This vessel was 
si.vty tons burden, and called tho '■ Griffin" it was constructed at Erie, then Fort Frontinac, 
by Robert de LaSalle, her commander. Father Louis Hennepin, a missionary was among 
the passengers. The Griffin proceeded up tho Lake to Green Bay, from which place 
she sailed on the 18th, of September, on her return with a cargo of furs, and was lost on 
Lake Erie, with all on board. Other vessels were afterwards at an early day constructed 
of a greater burden, and in 1793 tho British Government had a number of men-of-war 
on tho Lakes, of two hundred tons burden, each carrying eight guns. 

September 10th, 1813, tlie hostile fleets of England and tho United States on Lake Erie 
mot at tho head of the Lake, and a vci'y sovci-e battle ensued. The fleet bearing the 'rod 
cross' of England, consisted of sis vessels, carrying sixty-four guns, under command of 
the veteran Commodore Barclay, and the fleet bearing the 'broad stripes and bright stars' 
of the Ignited States, con.sisted of nine vessels, carrying fifty-four guns, under command of 
the young and inexperienced, but bravo Commodore I'erry. Tho result of this conflict 
was made known to the world in the following <lispatch, written at 4 P. M., of that day. 

Dear Gk.neral : — We have met tho enemy, and they are ours. Two ships, two brigs, one 
sjhooner and one sloop. With esteem, &c., 

General William Jones. O. H Perry. 

Captain Chelsea Blake, that veteran sailor, so long and favorably known on these wa- 
ters as " coMMODOiiE OF THE L.\KFS," aud who for many years, sailed the splendid steamers 
Michigan and Illinois, built by his early and steadfast friend. Oliver Newbury, Esq., of this 
city, commanded tho good schooner General Jackson in 1816, then owned by Messrs- 
Mack & Conant, of this city. For so many years and so intimately — through battlo> 
breeze and storm had our citizens known Blake, from the time bo volunteered to sustain 
his country's flag under General Scott, at Luudy's Lano, until through every vicissitude 
of a sailor's life, ho had won for himself tho distinguishing title which ho bore at his 
death, that liis name must forover be associated with the lake, which became his favorite 
element. Of almost giant size, and commanding presence, no son of Neptune ever uni- 
ted in his composition a rarer combination of tho qualities which make a true seaman, 
a safe commander, a genuine hei'O. 

Rough as the billows whoso impotent assualts on his vessel he ever laughed to scorn, 
with voice as hoarse as the tempest which he delighted to rule, this gallant son of the sea 
had withal a womnn's tenderness of heart to answer the appeals of distress. Sincere was 
the grief of mmy he had relieved, and universal the regret among all who had ever sailed 
with him, when he fell a victim to cholera, at Milwaukee, in tho year 1849. 

Scarcely less closely associated with the rise and progress of vessel and steam naTigation 
on tho lakes, is the name of our respected fellow citizen, Oliver Newbury, who has also on- 



48 SKETCHES OF TUB CITV OF DETROIT. 

titled himself to, and received the rank of " admiral op tub lakes." As ho Etill Rurrircs his 
fiivoritu Oaptiiin. it may bo iinbecomiiii; to spoitk of Iiiin in the terms which his persistont 
ontorpiise througli tho lapse of so many lonj; years, justly deserves. From the eommenco- 
ment of his career in this city, to tlie present time, ho has heen more or less largely inter stcd 
as owner of schooners, brigs, ships and steamers, always of the fii'st class in their day, and 
at one time ranked as the proprietor of the largest fleet on tho great chain of lakes. For 
the good ho has done by the employment of so many, and the promotion of the city's 
name for spirit ;)nd enterprise ammig the proudest cities of the land, his memory will 
always be cherished with affection and pride. 

Tho General Jackson was subsc<iuontly commanded by our venerated townsman, still 
livuig, Commodore Brevort, and was wrecked a few years after on Lake Huron. Ccmmo- 
doro Brevort also bore a gallant part in Perry's conflict, in testimony and gratful recogni- 
tion of which his country voted him a gold medal. 

In ISlT the jiublished marine list chronicleil as thearrivals during the week ending July 
24th, ten schooners and one sloop, tho latter having the ])assengers on board — and clear- 
ances, one sloop, and six schooners. In lt'.")4, the arrival of vessels at this port, during 
the season, numbered 2,434, their aggregate tonnage was 1,048,494, and the clearances 
numbered 2,.i.")4, aggregate tonnage 1,244, 1 37. 

Tho number of vessels enrolled at tho Detroit Custom House, in September, I8.i."), is as 
follows : steam boats, 60, and steam propellers, 23 — tonnageJS 1 28").;j0-95. Sail uessets — 
barques 5. brigs 9, schooners 12.'i, scow sehoonin-s 15, scows 17. sloops 44 — total, 2i;! — 
tonnage, 3.5.653, SO-O."). Total tonnage of steam and sail vessels, 69,878,80 95, making 
together of steam boats and sail vessels enrolled in this district about three hundreil, tho 
largest of -which, the steamer " Western World," is 2,00'i tons Inirden. 
STKAM K'JATS ANDSfEAITI Bt»AT KOI TES. 

Tho Steam Boat Walk-in-the-Water, Captain .ledecliah Rogers, was the first Steamer 
that navigated tho lakes, and her arrival at Detroit for the first time, was chronicled .May 
20th, 1819. 

Tho following notice of a trip to JIackinaw, appeared nt that date in a New York City 
paper. 

"The swift Steamboat, Walk-in-the-Water, is intemled to make a voyage early in the sum- 
mer from Buffalo on Lake I'.rie, to Michilimakinack. on lake Huron, for tho conveyanee of 
company. Tho trip has so near a resemblance to the famous Argonantic cxpeditifut in 
the heroic ages of Greece, th.it expectation is quite alive on tho subject. Many of our 
most clistinguished citizens are said to have already engaged their passage for this splen- 
diil adventure." 

The Walk-in-tho- Water w.-w advertised to make one trip weekly, from Black Rock to 
Detroit, and back, touching at the prini-ipal towns on tho American shore. 

Tho "Walk-in-tho-Water was wrecked near Buffalo, in the fall of 1821. Thom.-is Pal- 
mer, Esq., and lady and Mre. Felix Ilinchman of this city, wore on hoard at tho time, 
no lives were lost. The Stoam Boat Superior was huilt ilin'ing tho following winter, un- 
der the superiiitend.anec of Captain Rogers, and was lannched in tho month of .May, 1H22, 
and m.ido tri-moiithly trips, from Buffalo to Detroit during the summer 

This was tho commencement of the era of stoam in navigation — and now in L85,''>, there 
are times when there is not room at our two miles of wharves for tho number of steamere 
that throng them — m.iny of which aro magnificent, and as perfect .specimens of steam 
craft as can be found in the world, ami tho broad stieam is frequently. for miles above and 
below tho city, studded and whitened with tho sails of wholo fleets of brigs, schooners and 
sloops. 

Steam bo.its for the convcyanco of passengers now leave this city regularly, ns follows : 

From Detroit to Buffalo, Duily — Three magnificent stoamei-s, consisting of the " Wes- 



SKETCHES OF TUB CITY OF DETROIT. 49 



tern Wofld," 2,002 tons burden; "Plymouth Rock," 1,991 tons burden; and " Buckoyo 
State," 1,274 tons burden, form a daily line, connecting at Detroit with the M. C. R. R. 
These boats make tho trip on the north shore, and go through without stopping — running 
time l5 hours. 

From Detroit to Port Huron, Daily. — The splendid steamers "Forester" and '• Ruby,' 
form a daily line. Through by daylight. 

From Detroit to Ports on Lake Superior. — Four magnificent steamers, consisting of 
tho " Illinois," "North Star," "Planet," and " Northerner," ply regularly to Ontonagom 
and other ports on Lake Superior passing through tho Sault Ste. Mary Canal. 

From Detroit to Cleveland. Daily. — Steamers '' ^fay Queen" and " Ocean." 

From Detroit to Sandusky — Steixiiior " Bay City" — daily. 

From Detroit to Toledo, Daily — Steamers ''Dart" and "Arrow." 

From Detroit to Jlshlcy — Steamers "Albion" and "Pearl." 

From Detroit to Port Sarnia, C. W. — Steamer "Canadian." 

Tho Steam Boats "Transit," " Mohawk," and "Argo," (^forries) ply constantly between De- 
troit and Windsor. 

Thi-ee regular lines of propellers are established as follows: 

From Detroit to Dunkirk, coimcct'mg at Dunkirk with tho New York & Erie Rail Road. 

From Detroit to Buffalo, connecting at Buffalo with tho Now York Central Rail Road 
and Erie Canal. 

From Detroit to Ogdensburgh and Cape Vincent, Lake Ontario, passing through the 
Welland Canal, connecting with the Ogdensburgh and Vermont Central Rail Road, be- 
tween Ogdensburgh and Boston, and Capo Vincent Rail Road, between New York and Capo 
Vincent. 

Besides these a large number of propellers are engaged in carrying freight to various 
ports on the Lakes, above and below, and thousands of brigs and schooners arrive and clear 
during a season. 

RAIL, ROAD^. 

"The first railw.ays, formed on the plan of making a distinct surface and track for tho 
wheels seems to have been constructed near Newcastle upon the river Tyne in England. 
In Roger North's Life of Lord Keeper North, he says, that at this place (in 1676) the coals 
were conveyed from the mines to the banks of the river, by laying rails of timber exactly 
strait and parallel ; and bulky carts were made with four rollers fitting those rails, whereby 
tho carriage was made so easy that one horse would draw four or five chaldrons of coal.'' 
In 1776, Mr. Carr constructed an iron railroad at the Sheffield colliery. The rails were 
supported by wooden sleepers, to which they were nailed. Railways were afterward used 
in a number of other collieries, and in 1825 the first railway was successfully adopted on 
a public thoroughfare for the tranportation of merchandise and passengers on the Stock- 
ton and Darlington railroad in England, 25 miles in Iciigvh. From that time a new era 
commenced in the history of railroad transportation and railroads now extend like a net- 
work over the greater part of England. Tho first locomotive engine used as tho motive pow- 
er on railroads was used on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830. In 1827 the 
first railroad in the United States was constructed from Quincy near Boston to Neponset 
river, a distance of three miles. It was constructed solely for tho transportation of 
granite from the quarries. In 1828 the Mauch Chunck Railroad, nine miles in length, was 
finished: this was constructed solely for the transportation of coal. In 1820 tho Legisla- 
ture of the State of New York chartered tho " Hudson and Mohawk Railroad Company," 
which was the first railroad company chartered in the United States. On the 12th day of 
Aunust, 1830, the first ground was broken at Schenectaday for a double track road to Al- 
bany, and the road was in operation the foUowuig spring. The cars used were coach bod 
4 



50 SKETCHES OF TBB CITY OF DETROIT. 



ies, of the ordinary form. The motive power first uscJ was liorse, and on stet'ii inclinations 
stationary Btoam power. A locomotive engine called "John Bull," procured from Knjjland, 
was placed on it during that year. Tlie Xowcastlo and Frcnchtowii Kailroad was con- 
structed in 1829. This road extended from Newcastle on the Delaware, to the KIk riven 
near Frciichtown, ICJ miles, and was the first railroad constructed in the United .States 
for the conveyance of passengers. Tlie first engine on a railroad weighed hut six tons, 
w liilo at the present day engines of forty tons weight (including tenders) have heon intro- 
duced on some roads. 

In 1830 there were but 41 miles of railroad in operation in the f iiited St;ites; in 1S40» 
2,107 miles; in 1^50, S,G.i5 miles; and in 1854, there were 430 lailroads in operation' 
having an aggregate length of 20,G19 miles — 4.000 miles of which are double track roads. 
And it is estimated that there are about 13,000 miles more of railroads now in various stji- 
ges of construction. 

The project of a railroad across the Peninsula of Michigan, was agitated as early as 1830, 
it which time the Legislature of the then Territory of Michigan adopted .1 memorial to 
the general government in favor of the establishment of a caual or railroad route from 
Detroit to the mouth of St. Joseph River on Lake Michigan. 

In 1832 the Legislature incorporated the " Detroit and St. Joseph Railroad Company. 
In 1834 Leiut. J. M. Berrien, under authority of the War Department, surveyed the route 
of the road and submitted his report to a convention of the friends of the measure, held in 
Detroit in December of that year. Tlio Directors and odiccrs of the Company were as 
follows: M;ij. John Biddlo, President; Charles C. Trowbridge, Oliver Xewberry, Shubaol 
Conant, E. A. Brush, Henry Whiting, J. Burdick. H. IL Comstock, Mark Xorris and C.N. 
Omsby, ZJiVec/ors; John JL Berrien, C'/ii^/' £ng-iHter; A.J. Center, .hsUtnnt Engineer; 
and A. H. Adams Secretary and Treasurer. The construction of the road was com- 
menced by this company in 183G. Who surveyed the road from Detroit to Jackson and lo- 
cated it to Dexter. Tliis company graded about ten miles of the road in detached parts be- 
tween Detroit and Ypsylaiiti. They expended for grading, iron. cars, bridges &c., the sum 
of #139,702 79. Soon after Michigan was admitted into the Union, the Legislature adopted 
a grandsehemoof internal improvements anil eflectod a loan of five millions of dollars, for 
the purpose of constructing public works — railroadsand can.ds. This had the effect to check 
individual enterprise, and the Detroit and St Joseph Railroad Company transferred their 
interests to the State ip t e year 1S37. The State completed and o|)ened t.'oroad to 
Ypsilanti in 1H3S, to .\nn Arbor in 1S39, to Jackson in 1S42, and to K.ilamazoo in 1843. 
Tho State constructed the road with the wood and flat bar superstructure as far as Kala- 
mazoo, 143 miles from Detroit. When in 184G it was purchased from tho State by cap- 
italits, from Now York and New Enaland, for the sum of two million of dollars, and a char" 
tor was ijranted them l)y the Fiegislaturo incorporating thom a company under the stylo 
of the Michigan Central Railroad Company. 

iniCIIIRAN CENTRAL, UAILItOAU. 

Tho design of tho State was to make a road across the Peninsula only from Detroit to 
Lako Michigan. But it was at once apparent to the new ownoi-s that, with tho great and 
growing west beyond, tho ultimnto interest of tho stockholders — though [)erhaps tempo- 
rarily suffering — would bo ]iroinoted by tlio construction of a more permanent work, of 
largo capacity, .ind its extcnsieui through tho State of Indiana to Chicago, in Illinois. Tho 
charter of tho company gave them ample power to extend their road through this State, 
and tho company soon made arrangements with tho New Albany and Salem Railroad Com- 
pany to nso their right to buiUl a road from Michigan City to the State line of Illinois, and 
with the Illinois Central Railroad Company, whereby they were enabled to reach ChicagOi 
which they accomplished in 18.">2. At Chicago the road connects with nearly 1500 miloa 
of Railway and their extensive Steamboat connections. 



SK^rrcHES OP the city of Detroit. 51 

The Micliijiiii Centnil Ro;id also now connects with the Jolictand Northern Indiana road 
at Lake Station, 35 miles east of Chicago, by which arrangement passengers from St. l.nuis, 
can he set down in JVew York in aboulforty-cight hours, and freight can he transported be- 
tween Detroit and the Mississippi River without breaking hulk on the route. At Detroit, tho 
Michigan Central road connects with the Great Western Railway from Detroit to Niagara 
throngh Canada West, and with their own line of magnificent Steamers on Lake Ei-io, 
which pass down the north shore of tho Lake going throngh withont stopping in 15 hours. 

Tlioy run four passengei- trains through from Detroit to Chicago, daily, and one accom- 
modation train from Detroit to Kalamazoo, 143 miles daily. 

The ag'gregato number of passengers conveyed on the road during tho year ending May 
31st, 1853, was 503,774, (being 145,838 more than the year previous,) making a daily avorago 
of nearly 1700. Tho aggregate number of tons of freight moYed on tho road during tho 
same time was 241,8'25, being an increase over the year previous of 25,265 tons. Tho earn- 
ings of the road tor tho samo time amounted to tho sum of !f2. 215,283, being 635,871 more 
than the year previous and tho expenses of the road were for samo time $2,33.5.627 and 
§431, 083 more than the year previons. The net earnings of the road for samo time 
amounted to the sum of .¥879,6.'J6, being $204,160 more than the previous year. 

TIto annual business of tho road h?.s iucreascd in the last six years as follows ; in the 
number of passengers conveyed, from 152,672 to 503,604 ; in the number of tons of freight 
moved, from 81,060 to 241,826 tons; in gross earnings, from $091,972 to $2,213,283; and 
in net earnings, from $390,323 to $879,635. The operating expenses from $301, 049 to 
$1,33.>,G27. 

The ass(!ts of the company are as follows : 

Oost of road including depots, .... $10,"C0,U7 03 

Stock in Steamljoats, ..... 343,880 04 

Stock and Bonds in other Roadfi, ... 1,399,7()3 99 

Total, ...... $12,043,791 06 

There are 04 Locomotive Engines on tho road, 11 of which were constructed in tho 
Company's shops in this city, and 4 by tho Detroit Locomotive Works, and tho others at 
eastern manufactories. There are on the road 57 first and 12 second class piss cngcrcars 
630, 8 wheeled box freight cars; 150, 8 wheeled open cars; 11, 4 wheeled box c; r-. 
Total Passenger Cars C9. 
Total Freight Cars 1631. 
And 20 gravel dumpei-s. 70 hand cars, and 00 repair and wood cars. 
All the cars of every kind in use on tins road were built by the company in their own 
shops ; and the company employ about 12(X) men in operating the road and car and engine 
building. 

The population of that srclion of the State tributary to this road is 216,852; the number 
of acres of improved land 844,309 ; and the products of the district in 1854 was as follows : 
3,137,875 Irashels of wheat. 3,450,943 birshcls of corn, 943,330 bushels of graiu, 1,078.244 
bushels of potatoes, 86,760,88!) feet of lumber ; there are 298 saw mills and 93 flour mills in 
the section. The Depot grounds of this company, in Detroit, embrace an area of twenty- 
two acres of land, all enclosed. They have twsiity-six hundred feet of dock front on the river. 
Along this is their freight depot building, constructed of brick, two stories high, one hundred 
feet wide and eight hundred feet long. This building can store one hundred thousand barrels 
of flour. Adjoining thi^^, and fronting on Third street, is their Passenger Depot, three hundred 
and twenty feet long and seventy feet wide ; in one end of which are their ticket office, ladies' room 
baggage room, &c., on the first floor, and in the second story are the Superintendents and Treas- 
urers' offioos, Engineers' Rooms, Local Superintendant and Cashier offices, and also the general 
ticket office and duplicate bill department. Below the freight depot there are also two large 
two story warehouses, capable of storing twenty six thousand barrels, and a wheat evelator, 



62 SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 



constructed of brick, one hundred and tnenly feet long sixty feci wide and scventy-Cve feet 
high. Besides these there are witliin the enclosure an engine-hoiige one hundred and thirty five' 
feet diameter, surmounted with a dome eighty-fivo feet high, with sixteen apartments for en- 
g-jne.s, two machine and blacksmith shopis, one of which is one hundred and sixty feet Ions, sixty 
feet wide and two stories hiirh, in which arc twenty tlirce forges, the other is one hurxhed an(J 
eighty feet long and fifty-live feet wide, having 31 fires, and both furnished witli blast from 
a fan run by a statiouaiT engine. In the second story are a large uuuibor of lathes, planing- 
machines, <Src., for working iron. 

Adjoining is a large shop for building and impairing cai-s, one huncfred and sixty-nine feet 
long, lifty-fivc feet wide, and two stories high. All the machinery of this shop and the ma- 
chine shops is driven by a large stationary engine, placed in a building l>etween the two. 
There is a so between the two a large smoke stack, thirteen feet s<i«aie and one hundred 
and fifty feet high, by means of which all the smoke of the shops is carried off by under- 
ground (lues. There are also lumber, store and other buildings. 

This road is second to none in the west in permanency and solidity, or in its conduct and 
management. It is the pride of our state and city, and has at^Jed much to the permanent! 
business of both 

The officers of the company are as follows : 

President — J. W. Forbf„s, Boston. 

Vice President — J. W. Brooks, Detroit. 

Phectors— J. M. Forbes, R. B. Forbe^ J. E. Thayer, Geo. B. Upton, Boston; D. P. Wil- 
liamson, John C. Green, New Y'ork ; Er;istus Corning, Albany; J. \V. Brook.s, lOloii Farns- 
worth, Detroit. 



Treasurer — Isaac Liverniore. 
Superintendent — Reuben X. Rico. Detroit. 
Local Treasuier — U Tracy Howe. 
Ij)Cal Su])Orintendent — Cliaiks M. lliird. 
Cashier — Geo. W. Gilbert. 



Freight Agent — John Ilnsmcr. 
Auditor — K. Wilhud Smith. 
Su|)t. Motive Power — S. T. Newhall. 
Snpt. Car Work— S. C. Case. 



DETKOIT AND imiLWArKEE nAILWAY. 

The " Detroit and Milwaukie Railway Company" was incorporated by the legislature of 
Michigan, in February, ] 85.5, with authority to consolidate the Detroit and Pontiac (incorpo- 
rated in 1834) and the Oakland and Ottowa (incorporated in 18.')l)) RailRoad companies, and 
the consolidation was consummated on the 2lst day of April, A. D. 18")."), l;y which act the 
property, rights and franchises of the " Detroit and Pontiac " and " Oakland and Ottowa '" 
companies were vested in the "Detroit and Milwaukee Railway Company," aud placed under 
the direction of a Board com|)osed of the following gentlemen. 

lIi:xRY N. Wai.kf.r, President; Henry Ledyard, Vice President; II. P. r.aldwin, B. 
"Wright, K. A. Brush, E. B. Ward, Detroit; W. M. McCounell, Pouliac; H. P. Yale, 
Grand Rapids, Directors. 

C. 0. Trowbridge, Secretary and Treasurer. 

R. Higham, Chief Engineer. 

Names that are a sufficient guarantee to the public to insjrc the success of any enterprise 
they undertake. 

The Detroit and Milwaukee Railw.iy is to extend from the city of Detroit to Grand Ha- 
ven, Lake Michigan, 185 miles, pa.^sing through the northern tier of conntics of the lower 
peninsula. They are the richest portions of the state, abounding in lumber, plaster, wa- 
ter-lime, coal, siilt springs and other valuable elements of wealth. They are also some of 
the very best farm lands in tho (itate, and yet the lea.st developed, for want of a railway or 
other availalje communication commensurate with their business re(|uin'ment8. This road, 
which is now partially coniplcled, and its construction along the entire length rapidly pro.se- 
cnted, will soon supply their great defmency andpour their products aud that of the valleys 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 53 

of the Shiawassee, the Maple and Graad River iuto the city of Detroit, which is tlieir uatura 
depot and market, at once giving the road a local traffic equal to that of the most favored 
road in the western states. 

Tlie p')pulation of that section of the state tributary to this road in 1854 was 24l,lG-t. 
Tlie number of iicres of improved land was 820,004, and the products of the district were as 
follows-. 2,329,3t;9 bushels ef wheat, 2,081,095 bushels of corn, 872,881 bushels of grain, 1,- 
140,418 bushels of potatoes, and 350,000,000 feet of lumber. There were at that time 99 
flour mills and So2 saw mills in the district. 

At Corunna, ie Shiawassee county, the road crosses the Bituminous coal beds, which have 
new been teste*! for four years and found to be of the best quality, and which will be ex- 
tensively opeiiod when the means of tracsporting the coal to a market is afforded, which the 
coustruciion of this road will do. 

At Grand Eapids the line passes the gypsnra beds, which are -extensively worked now, 
and will form a large item of freight on this road, to supply the wheat growing counties con- 
tiguous to it. 

This road when finished, will be a complete work in itself, extending across the entire State 
from tlie straits which connect Lakes Erie and St. Clair, at the city of Detroit, the commer- 
cial capital of the State, to Lake Michigan, and might rely solely upon the resources of the 
contigtious territory along the line for support, but its position as part of the gyeat Northern 
trunk line, from Boston, Xew York and Montreal, to the Mississippi River and finally from 
thcHce to the Faeilic Ocean, gives it in a measure a national character, and secures a large 
amount of through traffic between the country west of Lake Michigan and the east. The dis. 
tance by this road, between New York and Milwaukee, is 106 miles shorter than by any oth. 
er route. 

At Detroit the road forms a connection with the Great Western Railway from Detroit to 
Niagara Falls tlirough Canada West, and from thence by sevei-al different routes to the 
cities on the sea-board, both in the States and Canada. 

At Grand Haven on Lake Michigan a connection is formed by steam ferries across the Lal^^ 
to Milwaukee, connecting with the five differeat railroads terminating in that city, extending 
west to the Mississippi River, to-wit: The " Milwaukee and Mississippi." to Prairie du Chien. 
the " Milwaukee and La Cross," the " Racine, Kenosha and Bcloit," the " Manitowoc and St. 
Paul's," and the " Milwaukee and Dubuque," or Galena Railroad, and also with roads running 
north to Lake Superior. The road from Detroit passes through the villages of Royal Oak, 
Birmingham, Poiitiac, Waterford, Rose and Holly, in Oakhnd county; Fentonville, Linden 
and Gaioes, iu Genesee county; Owasso and Corunna, in Shiawassee county; St. Johns, in 
Clinton county; Lyons, Ionia and Plat Riv-er, in Ionia county; Grand Rapids, in Kent county 
to Grand Haveu in Ottocra county. 

At the last session of Congress a bill was inti-oduced to donate public hinds for the pur- 
pose of construetiKg a railroad running north connecting with this road at Fentonville, to Sag. 
inaw aixl the Straits of Mackinaw, thence to the Saut St. Mary's and from thence through the 
mineral regions of Lake Superior to Montreal River. And another to Marquette River in the 
county of Mason on Lake Michigan, connecting by steamboats across Lake Michigan to 
Manitowoc, Marquette, Eagle Hai'bor, and Ontonagon, on Lake Superior. The growing 
importance of tli« mining interests on Lake Superior, render a road desirable atid its construc- 
tion will be reipiired at no distant day, which will furnish to the Detroit and Milwaukee 
road an amount of business not easily appreciated. The Detroit and Milwaukee company 
received from the Detroit and Pontiac company, twenty-five miles of road from Detroit to 
Pontiae, which had recently been re constructed in the best manner, and which was stocked 
with five locomotives, four passenger cars, and forty-eight freight cars. The road is completed to 
Fentonville, 51 niilos from Detroit, and it will, daring the present month, be opened to Cor- 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 



niuiia, .")U miles beyoiul i'outiac, when 75 iiiilod of the road from Detroit will be iu operation. 
Tweiily-?ix hundred tons of iron have recently been received by the company, and tho gra- 
ding and superstructure of the road is rapidly progressing, and the road bed will be ready for 
the rails as far as Lyon?, 123 miles from Detroit, by tho first of December next. The es- 
timated cost of the road from Detroit to Lake Michigan is ifC,192,05O. 

The Depot grounds of the company in the city of Detroit arc located in the centre of the 
city on the river, ivnd cover an area of about twelve acres. They have sixteen humlred and 
fifty feet of dock front on the river. On these grouinls there are two large store housps, freight 
ihcih, an engine house for six locomotives, machine shop, smith sho]), wood sheds, water 
tank, itc. 

The construction of this road will bring to the city of Detroit an amount of business not 
easily aj)preciated and its completion is paramount to every other of the many projected im- 
provements, for the interests and prosperity of the city. 

THE grx:at western railway. 

Tl\is popular road, which was opened in January 18.i4, extends from Windsor, opposite De- 
troit, throu;ili the cities of Chatham, London and IIaniilton,to Niagara Falls. 229 miles, cross- 
ing the Niagara Kiver on the great Railway Suspension Bridge, acknowledged by all to be one 
if the wonders of the world, and connecting with the New York Central and New York 
and Erie Uailivays, for New York, Boston and all intermediate placs. It also connects at 
Hamilton, with railway and steamers to all ports on Lake Ontario and the River St. La»~ 
rence, and with the Great Western International Line of Steamers for Oswego, wjich form 
one of the quickest, and ccrtaiidy the most pleasant route now open to the East — these 
Btoamers being fitted up with every regard to comfort and convenience, and being unsurpass- 
ed by any steamers upon the inland waters of America. 

The construction of tho Groat Western Railway, has secured for tlie city of Detroit what 
was much needed, and which our citizens have long suffered for tho want of, namely, a speedy 
and reliable route to the east, uninterrupted at all sesisons of the year. 

'J'he Great Western Railway is acknowledged to be one of the best constructed, and most 
efficiently managed roads on the continent of America, and has already a very large busi- 
ness, both in through and local traffic, both of wliich are rapidly increasing. 

The rcceijjts for the half year ending 31st 
July 1855, being, ...... :e239,193 

And for the same period in 1854, ----- 1.50,105 

Showing an increase in one year of - - - - £99,088 

or upwards of 66 per cent, on the gross traffic of the line. 

There are at present C2 locomotives on the road, and 11 more are to be placed on it this 
fall, making in all 76. There are likewise on the road 4.5 first class passenger cars, 29 emi- 
grant cars, 12 baggage, mail a'ul express cars, 416 eight wheel and KX) four wheel box 
freight caiw, 122 i)latform, .50 cattle and 403 gravel cars; iu all llb9, at present on the road, 
which, with 519 now constructing, will make a total of 1708. 

The company have lately issued j; 1,000,000 of uew stock, tlie whclo of tvhicb has been 
taken up by the original sharcholilei-s, and they intend at once laying another track between 
Hamilton and London, to enable tliem to accommodate their vast and increasing kisiuesa, 

Tho followinsr are the Directors of the company: 



Rout. W. IIakiii.s, ]•'.>■■(], Presi.iirit. 
.lohti S. Radclini', Esq , Vice RresidiMit. 
(;. I. Brydces, Esq , Managing Director. 
Henry McKinstry, Esq., 



V/illiam Dickson, Esq., 
I. B. Smith, Esq., 
Alex. Beatlie, Esq., 
Robert i; ill, Esq., 



Lieut. Col. (iourlay, Esq., | I'ctcr Buchanan, Esq., 

E.\-Officio DinF-CTons. — C. Magill, Esq., Mayor of Hamilton ; D. MuthicsoD, Esq., War- 
den of Oxford; H. Clench, E.s(|., \\'urdcn of Middlesex. 
General Ollice of the Company, Hamilton, Canada West 



SKETCHES OF THE CITr OF DETROIT. 



55 



XJUB DlCXRUir, lHOvRt>£ AND TOl.EIJO RAILiHOAD. 

The Detroit, Monroe and To'.ecio Railroad, which has existed for many years past only in old 
charters, projected routes and public assurances, is likely to be constructed without further 
delay. A company was recently organized under the General Railroad Law of Michigan, and 
the project placed in the hands of a Board of Directors composed of gentlemen of a character 
that will insure its speedy construction. The Directors have effected such arrangements that 
will insure the completion of the road within the next twelve months. This road will pass 
through the villages of Trenton and AVyandot, and Monroe city, to Toledo, connecting us 
with the southern tier of counties of this State, from which we have hitherto been excluded, 
and with the Ohio roads, leading to Cincinnati, and the South Siiore Rail road to Dunkirk 
and Buffalo; also, with the Jlichigan Southern road to Chicago. 

The foregoing include all the roads that exist or have a name to do so, but we need oth- 
ers leading to the northern portions of our State. One to Port Huron; one to Saginaw thence 
to Mackinaw; also one from Detroit to Adrain, thence to the State line to connect with th^ 
Logausport and Northern Indiana Railroad, which is already extended to within fifteen miles 
of our State line, passing througit the Wabash and Kol Rivor valleys and connecting with 
the Mississippi and Atlantic Railroal, forming a direct route to St. Louis, 80 miles less dis, 
tance from New York than by any other. Let the doors be thrown open wide, and let the 
citizens of Detroit extend every aid within their power for the construction of roads termi- 
nating in the city, wherever they may extend. 



DISJ'ANCES FRO.II BETKOET. 



Via Micuiqaj) Ci;n"teal Railroad. 



MUKS 

To Denrl)0-n H' 

W.i.ne IT 

Yp'iilanti 29 

Gvddfs 3 

Ann Arbor .^7 

Dellii « 

Scio a 

D^xle -t' 



Che'sea 

G ass Lllie.. . . 

J.icli.'oa 

Pjrm* -. 

A'hinn 

Msrshall ...... 

Ba tie Creek... 



. 86 

..lo; 

..1.0 



t MILES. 

ITo G:lIfRllu-g 13+ 

I Kil»ni!izio 143 

Paw I'aw 159 

Decatur .... H" 

I>owagiac K-* 

Niles 190 

B chaan 197 

Terrs Cnup e .201 

New BuflUlj m 

I rortor 2.19 

Lak- i49 

Junction S(i9 

Cliirago -.84 

Joliet 294 



Via Detroit and Milwaukeb Railway. 



ToTtojalOak 12 

Btrmingham Ifi 

Pontian 26 

Wa'erford 31 

R.se 4i 

Holiy J. 46 

FeiitonvUIe 51 

Lindei 56 

Gaines 6U 



To Cnrunni ... . 

I'w:isr.o._ 

Bt Johns . . . 

L}On^ 

Ionia 

Flat River ... 
G ao'l Ripi.Js 



. 78 

. 116 

.115 

IL'2 

5 37 

, . .105 



Grand llaveu 1^4 



Via Great Westerx Railway, C. "W. 



To Belle River 16 

Baptist Cieek 30 

Chatham 45 

Tha esville 60 

H g.Mt »Roid 73 

Ecktord Si 

Loho ino 

1.0 don 11(1 

Hiiftmau. IvO 

In,' rsoU I; 9 

Wood tock 13^ 

B euliiem 147 

Vu TLAMtROAD. 

Tu Teuton laliroMonroa 41 

GibrJter 2oll Toledo 65 



ToParii 158 

Fa-rcliild'sCnek — 167 

l>ua.;as 181 

Hamilt-m 186 

■-t n-v Ceek l!-3 

Grinsby 203 

H-am vil'e 20S 

St. Catherine's 210 

Tnor.ill .221 

Ni.gara F.rlls S3;J 

Bu !a:o 252 



Via Detroit, t.owELL and Lansi.ng 1 lakkhoad 



ToRedford 12 

F,i miiigton . 19 

Ko>-i 2.n 

llickville 30 

New Hudson 3! 

KenMn.'ton 34 

Br ghton 4n 

Howell ._ S(l 

Fowler's ., 59 

Le Hoj- 68 



Ti w illi-amstown 70 

Oicenias 77 

Lansing m 

Ka:jle 91 

lortl-'iid iriS 

Lyons 113 

louia it7 

SaranacfperS B).. 133 

Ada 141 

Grand Rapids l.M 

Via Detroit and Saline Flankroad. 

ToDufb ru lOllToC.inlon 52 

VVa.vne 17 I Tucumseh .57 

Ypsi:i.nti 2" Aunan 61 

Saline 4l|| 

Via Drn-Rorr. Mt Clemens ant? -^lmont Plankroad- 
To Utica I3jilo Borneo 40 

Mt. Cemn; 2 ^ Imont 40 

.Armada 3711 

Via Lake. 



To Ashley 30 

Aljjonac __ 4'' 

Kewpurt 48 

.St. Clair 50 

Port Huron 68 

Lc'xingtou !S 

Via Lake. 

''o Vonroe 40 

Tote o (.(I 

Sanduiky 75 

Via 

T) Sandusky City 75 

Huron J5 

Black River 105 

<1 velaod 142 

Grai-d K.ver 1721 



To Oodprich, C W UR 

MH'k naw 315 

."•au t St. Maries :«5 

O.ilonagoo .... 645 

'uperio- City 7-iO 

Grteu Bay 495 



Clevoland 110 

n.li.kirk 230 

B.ffalo 265 



tkambOats. 

To /ishlabula 213 

Conneaut 228 

Erie 232 

Du.kiik... 2S6 

BulTalo 338 



To rincinnali... _.307||To Cai o . 

Pi'taburs: siSSil Galera 

KIsand b? Chicago 466 I St. P.iul .. 



.- 649 
...4.55 

-11 •• ^** 
St. Louis 552" Milw.iukte 369 



SQ SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 

CO.XCLlStOM. 

The city of Detroit is the commercial and mannfacturing metropolis of the state of Michi- 
gan, which is surrounded by a greater extent of navigable waters than any other state in the 
Union, its territory being washed by the waters of Lakes Erie, St. Clair, Huron, Superior and 
Michigan ; and its agricultural resources are great, its pineries are most extensive, its fisheries 
are superior, its upper Peninsula abounds in niiucral wealth. The copper and iron found there 
is superior in quality and the quantity inexhaustible. Its coal and gypsum, beds and marble 
quarries are inferior to none, and its salt springs aro excelled only in strength by those of 
New York ; all of which are now being appreciated by our citizens, who are putting fjrth 
their efforts to fully develope them, satitficd that every element of wealth is within their reach 
and that the City of the Straits will maintain a proud and preeminent position among her 
sister cities of the Lakes and the Union. 

Three railroads now terminate here, and the fourth will be added within the next twelve 
months, connecting us with the southern tier of counties of our state, from which we have 
hitherto been excluded, and with the Ohio roads leading to Cincinnati and beyond, and the 
Logansport and St. Louis railroad must inevitably extend itself to this city. 

The city contains at jiresent numerous extensive manufactories a population of .10,000, a 
vast number of prosperous mechaiiicf, mostly owning their own shoi)s and houses. We have 
an improved city, a magnificent river, never swollen by flood or shallowed by drouth, w-ith a 
front of miles for wliarfage and anchorage evety where. As a harbor it is excelled by few in 
the world, either in pituresqueness or safety. 

The country around and tributary to the city is growing and improving not less rapidly, 
and the site and location of the town is admirably adapted to commercial and mechanical 
business of every kinil and on a large scale. The Sault Ste Mario canal, just completed, 
opens up to us a hitherto obstructed prospect, and secures a large and valuable trade with 
the upper portion of the State. The advantages of this trade to Detroit are apparent. 

Detroit in many particulars is, notwithstanding the misapprehensions of some letter writer.', 
the unrivalled City of the Lakes. Its growth has been steady, healthy and natural. Portions 
of the city whicli but a few years ago were the very outskirts: ponds formerly existing on the 
Grand Circus and on the farms at the head of the " Hiver Savoyard " where sportsmen amused 
themselves hunting duck and plover, are now far within tho thickly settled and populated dis- 
tricts. The localities formerly occupied liy forts, cantonments, block houses magazines and 
navy yards; the potato fields, con)moiis where cattle grazed, and grave yards were, are now 
coni|)actly covered by long rows of stores and warehouses, manufactories, mechanics' simps, 
dwellings, and towering church steeples, and a dense, thrifty and enterprising population whoi-e 
busy hum have so changed the scene that the ancient hiUtant and persons born and reared 
in the laud are scarcely able to recognize it. As the poet might say: 

" Cn \-wx\ af(l *Iop'' — therrd mnrs Ia*e Hhfdo 
1h***le:nn Iin-go ruph'8 "n an I-on roa-l 
Thf ''eciilo 'iwa at <t vas' grinnrifR g-cnn 
V ith pr* (tiicti» of widf rffttm-j Ity commrTi'e made our own, 
I'nndH «lii-:e the ^[mt'iiii" II huiitrd dui-k :i d ido^er 
Non- w'lli piiTtprr » Mll'i pa V"« nr* c'lVfcd ovor. 
Crct'n I-'DO' throiiell whit-b ih\'kalitat>t nl'lje 
Iirove Ilia rharetle—Xr, ■ n^l« u^ *i »•< l^ Itave priWD, 
P.»Td with c«jbl'lc« u'.iili pt'ip'oxod lln- Ihotc 
I'f hi* li'uc •'strftith* — bv tride .lot decked of yor«, 
PlriitB who-eclcar depth* oo piioifurf n-td rou'd reach. 
N'lW ^u)lt»'ily sivi- l>.ic!( tlie accw-lui;'* a.' tut MTf« h. 
•• r- all from fh" '* Park Con'-ffl^ior." — what nur ri'O 
Illiiiiie* Jc«n Or pt'.u'f hnnc-l, woi d'riiiK < ypft — 

1*0 ^«'p tile terrace wiior,- tlie rniTipnrt T ovm il. 

AVith I >fly piie. o( b'ick and mnrlar criiwIKd. 

A\h-\ «<tiat I rcater rhniirr U' )iriii''i( the mo 'crD plac* 

C'ln ailling now a le^a cuntcntpd race, 

Til-* aimpl'- virt- c* of tlie olfl* ll lime 

ExchaogYd Ur c-jln— the iror«a'.ini{;h!y dime." 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 57 



APPENDIX 



DETROIT IN 1756. 



James Bull, Esq , of this city, has in his possession a bouni.1 volume of the " Lontlon 
Chronifle," published ia 1757, (The form of the ■'Chronicle"' is 7 by 10 inches, published 
semi-weekly,) which contains tlie following : — 

" Philadelphia, July 28. 

Since our last, c:inic to Town one Peter Lewnoy, who, for about a year past has been 
among the French and Indians at Fort Detroit, and informs us as follows, viz : That ho 
was an Ensign of a Company of Rangers in tho back part of Virginia, consisting of 70 
men, commanded by Capt. John Smith, That last summer the Frontier Inhabitants, being 
greatly distressed l)y the incursions of the enemy, their whole company went out in difl'er- 
ent parties to their assistance, except the Captain himself and nine private men, who vrcro 
in a Block House, and had with them six women and five children. 

That on tho 30th of June. 1750, they were attacked by a body of Indians and some 
French, and defended themselves tho best part of a day, in which time, he says, they 
killed thirty-two Indians and three Frenchmen, lost two of their own pcop'e, and another 
man and himself were wounded ; but were forced to surrender at last, the house they were 
iu being set on fire. 

That they were then carried off, and after traveling some time, tho Indi.ans belonging 
to four different tribes divided the prisoners, and parted ; that before they carae to the 
lower Shawanese Town, (where he supposes there were about 300 Indians) the Shawaneso 
made a sacrifice of one Cole, whom they roasted alive, and tormented for a whole night 
before he e.xpired ; and this they did in sight of the French, who seemed unconcerned at 
their horrid barbarity, and did not endeavor to restrain them, notwithstanding the moving 
entreaties and bitter complaints of the poor man ; that they also killed and scalped another 
man on the road, he being old and not ablo to travel. That he (Lewney) was the only one 
that was carried to Detroit where there were aljout 300 French families settled, and in 
what they call tho Town they have about 100 houses ; that they have plenty of fish ; tho 
land rich, on which they raise wheat and peas, and have very good crops ; and the Indians 
of two or three different nations very numerous. 

That while he was at Detroit an Indian King adopted him for his brother, on which ac- 
count ho was very well used, and was often with them at their Councils with the French, 
being dressed and painted as tho Indians were, and not known by the French but as an 
Indian, living in every respect as they did ; and that at one time in particular, at a confer- 
ence, he heard tho French commander order the Indians to go first to Fort Duquesne, 



58 SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 

then to Fort Cumberland, and iiftcrwards tojdcstroy all tlie English inhabitants; that about 
the beginning of April last a grc;it body of Indians sot oft' for Duquesne, in parties, each 
party having some l-'rcnchmon with tbcm. 

That about the middle of June ho loft Detroit in company with a small party of Indians 
who were going to Niagara with some fui-s, in order to purchase Indian goods; that from 
Detroit to Niagara it is about 2S0 miles, and that on the Falls of tho latter the French 
have a small Fort, in which they keep 30 men ; and at Niagara there is a Fort of 24 guus, 
C, 9 and 12 pounders, and iu it about 300 men. 

That while ho was at Niagara he met one William Phillips, of New York, who was taken 
at Oswego, and they agreed to make thoir escape together ; that the night boforo they left 
it, 280 French arrived there from Cadaravui, destined, it was said, for Fort Duquesne, who 
er camped that night, and were to set out again next day, but he and Phillips went off 
before them ; that they traveled about 200 miles, (the land bad and mostly drowned) when 
they came to Oswego without seeing an Indian, which place ami Fort Ontario tlioy Aiuiid 
entirely destroyed ; that they came to the Mohawk Rivor, where they were kindly received 
by the Indians, who gave them some victuals, of which they were in great want ; and that 
they got to Albany the 12th lost., from whence ho proceeded to this city, and is now gone 
to Virginia, where his parents live. Ho was born in this Town, and is about 23 years of 
age. Capt. Smith, he said, was given to tho French, and scut to Canada in the spring." 



DETROIT IN 1766-8 



The compiler of the foregoing Sketches is indebted to lion. A. D. Eraser for the fol- 
lowing papers, received after the foregoing wore in typo. In a nuto accompanying tho 
papers Mr. Fraser says : " Little is known of tho early history of our city ; and those who 
could have shed light upon it have long since passed away. M uch. however, might be done 
in our day towards this object, by the publication of such ancient documents as must ho 
still in the possession of some families in this ancient city. I am led to mako these re- 
marks from having recently become possessed of two original documents, which I cannot 
but think will ho perused with some curiosity. They wore recently discovered among tho 
papers of a gentleman who died on tho opposite shoj-o some forty years ago. It seems 
that the British Govcriimcnt. about four years after taking possession of Detroit, formed 
the determination to compel the inhabitants to bear the ex[)cnso of repairing the Fort at 
their own cost Col John Campble, tho commandant at Detroit and ita dependencies, 
issued a requisition on the citizens for this purpose. This drow from them a spirited and 
energetic remonstrance. The second document is a voluntary associution entered into in 
176s by some of the princii)al iidiabitant.% to repair tho pickets around the Town, as well 
for tho public good, as their own particular and common safety, and appointing commis- 
sionei-s to do the work at their oipensa" 

To John Campble, Esq., I.ieit. Col. axo Commandant at Detroit axd its Depen- 
dencies : — 

Silt : — 

We havo taken yonr order of tho 3d inst.ant, respecting the furnishing of ma- 
terials by us for repairing this Fort, into consideration, and find it absolutely impossible to 
comply with it. The requisition made of us per individnols, would amount at least to 
Four Thousand Pounds, N. Y. Currency. A sum by far too great for tho whole sottio- 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 59 

meat, and all the trading people from dififereut places now residing here, to pay. How 
ever, that we may not be looked upon to bo actuated by a spirit of opposition, we have 
taken all the pains in our power to obtain the fullest information we could in regard to the 
obligation we are supposed tolaj under for keeping up the repairs of this Fort upon its 
present plan. We find, sir, that till the year 1750 the Fort was about half the extent it 
now is. The inhabitants till then were obliged to furnish one picket for each foot of ground 
they possessed in front within the Fort, and pay annually two sol per foot to the Crown, 
by way of rpiit rent. It was with difficulty that the circumstance of this place could ac- 
complish the payment of their dues to the French King, of which he proved his sensibility 
by easing the inhabitants of the heavy bnrthen of furnishing pickets ; for from that time 
the Fort was enlarged upon an entire new plan, at the solo expense of the Crown. This 
measure was not only necessary for easing the inhabitants but for convieniency of public 
buildijigs. The annual tax of two sol per foot, in front, was continued till the surrender 
of this country to the English, since which the service has required such taxes of us that 
they have been almost unsupportable. — permit us, sir, to mention them and you will see 
that wo stand in greater need of assistance, than be obliged to pay any new demands. 
Capt. Campbell, the first English commandant at Detroit, on his arrival hero, levied a tax 
on the proprietors in the Fort for lodging the troops, which amounted to a very considera- 
ble sum, besides each of the farmers were obliged to pay a cord of wood per acre in front. 
The second year the proprietors paid again for quartering the troops, and the farmers fur- 
nished double the quantity of wood they did the year before. The third year Col. Glad- 
w-in continued the same taxes. The following year, being 1702, the tax within the Fort 
alone amounted to one hundred and eighty-four pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence. 
In the year 17ti4 the taxes came to one hundred and fifty-eight pounds, New York Cur- 
rency. In the year 1765 you was pleased to signify by Messrs. Babee and Shapporton that 
the taxes for the future should be the same as in the French Government, which, as we 
have said bef<ire, was two sol per foot for the lots vfithin the Fort. The farmers were sub- 
ject to a quit rent of two shilliLgs and eight pence, New York Currency, and one-fourth 
bushel wheat per acre in front, which was accordingly paid to "Mr. Shapperton, who was 
appointed to receive the same. After this, we could not help being surprised at tte tax 
for the current year, viz : one shilling per foot in front for lots with.in the Fort, and ten 
shillings per acre for the farmers in the country. The heaviness of this tax is most severely 
felt, as you may judge by the delay and the difficulty the people have in paying it. This 
proves the badness of our circumstances. AVo have not mentioned anything hero with a 
view of throwing any odium on you or any of your predecessors in the command, but to 
show the impossibility of complying with the requisition now under consideration. To 
make our plea of exemption still stronger, we take the liberty to lay before you Mr. Na- 
van-e's letter to us with its translation, as ho has long resided here in a public character, 
and being a man of knowledge, wo cannot doubt but the testimony will have its deserved 
effect with his Kxcellcncy the Generah We forbear any further arguments of our inabili- 
ties. You know, sir, the sorrowful situation we are reduced to for want of money, and the 
languishing condition our trade is in. In short; the knowledge you have of everything 
that relates to this infant country and the countenance and protection you have always 
showed to a fair trade, makes us hope that you will dons the justice to represent our cir- 
cumstances as they i-eally are to those in power, and then we are sure wo shall be relieved 
from some of our present emtan'assments, instead of being loaded with new taxes."! As you 
are soon to leave this country, it gives us sensible concei'n that any of your orders shouiffi 
meet with opposition from us, especially when we consider that all your orders precedinj 
this relative to the settlement have ever been founded on the most just and equitable 
principles. We therefore take this opportunity (as it probably will bo the last,) to thank 
you with hearts full of gratitude for your wise, steady,^ benevolent and impartial conduct. 



60 



SKBTCnSS OF TllS CITT OF DETROIT. 



> (luring your command over us. Accept of our sincere and best wishes tor your heultli, 
happiness and prosperity. 

Wo are sir, with respect, your most obedient, humblo servants." 

Power of Proprietors to the Commissioners for repairiiit^ the Pickets abuul the Tuwn of 

Detroit: 

Be it known by these presents, tiiat we, tho subscribers, proprietors of the Town of De- 
troit, sensible of the absolute necessity there is at present for repairing tho Pickets ar >und 
the Town, as well for tho public good as onr own particular and common safety, wo do 
hereby fully authorize and impower Messrs. Baby, St. Casm, Sterling and Tliom. Williams, 
Commissioners for us and in our behalf and .stead, to buy Pickets and cau.se them to bo 
planted, and to make such repa:rs !is to them shall seem expedient, and to appoint a per- 
son they may approve of, to superintend tho carrying on the work, who is to bo paid as 
they may agree. Wo hereby ratify, confirm and agree to whatsoever they shall do or 
cause to bo done in and about the ]iremises, and engage to pay on demand our respective 
proportions of tho expenses arising therefrom according to our possessions, as we have been 
lately taxed for tho repairs already made. 

DETRorr, February 24th, 1763. 

Signed by John Hay, P. Dequindre for Steadman, Rinkin & Eagen, D. Baby, W. V. 
Schaach & Co.. I.eirrand.' Bon. James for Farrell & Abbott, John Magill, Peter Raven, D. 
Br?hni, St. Martin for Ed. Pollard. Alex. Macomb, B. Chapcton, Chociel, John Robinson, 
Hugh Boyt. Jacob, Lansingin. Comm. Jjaforto, B. Gracko. Xailo Muo.int. Tcofille, Scncha- 
gi'in, P. St. t'osme, tluilbean, C.ibajig. Tabrosso, Augustiii Li Eiiy, Kcaume. 



1778. 
Letter from General Gage to Capt. Stephenson. 2d Battalion GOtk Regiment, Detroit. — 

Preserved among the papers of the late Judge May. .Vo. 20. 

New York, April Ptii, 1778. 

Sin: Your letters of the I4th and 18th December, are very full on the subject of grants 
and lands at tho Detroit. I am to ex|)Uiin to you that tho King has not invested any per- 
sons whatever, with the power of granting lands in Amoric.i, oxce])t to his Givoniors, 
within the limits of their respective Provinces; and under certain forms and restrictions, 
and where any purchase is made of tho Indians though within tho limits of tho Province 
they are not valiil, unless permission is given so to do, and tho purcluuso njado in presence 
of tlio Governor and His Majesty's Superintendent of Indian AiTairs. From hcnco you 
will know that tho power of granting lands .at tho Detroit, rem,".ins solely in the King, and 
that no purch.aso can he made of Indians but with tho Kings permission and authority. — 
It may bo needless after tho above explanation to inform you that all grants made by 
Lieut. Col. Gladwin, Major Brace or any other British Commander, are null and void and 
of no value. 

As tor the French grants in general, nnless approved of by tho Governor General of Can- 
ada and registered accordingly, thoy were not valid; but as for Mons. Belestro's grants in 
tho year 1770, thoy cannot bo deemed any other than fraudulent and are by no means to 
bo looked upon as valid, and as for tho Indian purchase thoy were not aHowed by the French, 
nor are they allowed by tho ICnglish Government, but under tho restrictions I have already 
mentioned. 

Monsieur Navarrie's declaration, or cortificnto may be in part true, hut it is not the whole 
truth. Tho first settlers with Mons. Sabrovois, wore not, perhaps, enjoined to the condi- 
tions imposed afterwards respecting their titles t the Government was glad to get any 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 61 

people to begin the settlement. But Mens. Navarrie's conclusion is vague and ill founded. 
I am well informed in these matters, was three years in possession of the boolcs wlioiein 
the files were registered, and received information ujion them, the very time in which 
Mens. Belestro's grants were made, which sufficiently points out their being invalid, and that 
t'ley could not be registered when the government of Canada was on the point of surren- 
dering to the King, and the Capital possessed by his troojjs. so early as Sept. 1859. Mons. 
Bclestre was not ignorant of these circumstances, and his grants are fraudulent. I am 
to reqiiiie of you as soon as this is received, to annul and make void by public act. every 
concession made by Mons. Bclestre in the year 1760 every gTant made by any British 
Commander, without exception, and all Indian purchases whatever, or Indian deeds, not 
obtained by the King's permission, and authority; and that you do not suffer any settle- 
ments to bo made with the above titles, or any new settlements to be begun on any pre- 
tence whatever, and that you pull down as fast as any persons shall presume to build up, 
and that you do seize and send down the country all persons who shall bo endeavoring to 
settle among the savages. 

I imagine the Indians will be set upon to talk to you on these subjects : you will answer 
them that the King is tender of their jH'operty, and has made regulations to prevent their 
being cheated, and defrauded ; that His Majesty has been induced to make these rules, 
upon the frequent complaints of the Indian against the white peoplewho have defrauded 
them of their lands by making a few of them drunk and getting them in that condition 
to give away their country, to the great disgust of the rest of the nations, and that by 
such means the Indians have represented that wliitc peojde have taken great part of their 
hunting grounds. This has happened to many Indian nations, and unless you stop it in 
the beginning at the Detroit, the same thing will happen there. 

Mr. Grant has engaged to build two vessels for the King, in which business you will 
please to assist him, and give him such helps as your Garrison affords, whenever ho shall 
demand it. As for the merchants they may build what vessels they please, but you will 
not suffer either Mr. Grant's artificers or sailors to bo taken from him. You have acted 
very properly in that respect already. I understand there is very good cedar to be had 
which Mr. Givint will now use for the King's vessels, ami if you find it necessary, you wil I 
reserve the cedar and suffer no pei'sons to cut it, but when it is to bo used in the King's 
service. 

I hope that you received the order about fitting out the old vessels for this year's 
service. 

You must continue to take every precaution against accidents from fire, if Jlr. Babies 
stable is so near the magazine as you represent, it must be deemed a nuisance and removed 
accordingly. 

I am sir, your most obedient, humble servant, 

(Signed) THOMAS GAGE. 

P. S. — The merchants alledgo that there is cedar to bo had in the greatest plenty. If 
that is the real case, I can have no objection to their cutting as much as they shall want 
of it; and you will not obstruct them, in that or any other business not detrimental to the 
service. T. G. 

(A true copy.) E. B. Littlehales. 
To Capt. SiErnENSON, 2d Bat. 60th Reg., at Detroit. 



G2 SKETCBES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 



17 8 9. 

The following extracts are from a letter written by the late Peter Andraiii. Esq., fatlie 
of Mre. Robert Ahliot, to Hon. Jumes May, wlio was at the time at Cincinnati, thc-n the si'at 
of Govcrnmont. Tl'.c lottcr is ilatoii Detroit, January I4tli 1709, and gives in detail tlie 
proceedings of an election boina; ht-ld for tlie election of two merabei's of Goneral Assem- 
bly, Judge Jlay being a candidate for re-election. The voting was I'/vif roce, and the Judges 
of election refused to receive votes for Judge May, " because he was gone to Cincinnati." 
This was the only poll held in Michigan, and the inhabitants, from River Raison to River 
St. Clair, came hero to vote. The ckclinn was held two days, and the "candidates pro- 
claimed to be highe.'-t in number are Wisowell and Vitger, a^ Col. Chahcrt has diclincit, and 
is not eligible, not having three years' rcfidence in the country. Visger and Wisowell were 
there present, and Visgcr told the Judges and Shcriti that he would not go with Wisowell. 
He then asked them which candidate was the highest in number of votes. Tliey answered 
him that it was Col. Chabert. Visger said ho was willing to go with Col. Chabert Col. 
Chabert they then sent for, who v::\a in an adjoining room, and asked him whether he was 
willing to go with Mr. Visger. He answered yes. Col. Chaliert demanded then a certifi- 
cate of his election, and they answered him that they could not give it. They culled for 
wine, and thus the business ended. Previous to that, Christian Clemens, a fi'iend of A\'iso- 
well, asked the Sheriff and Judges why the name of Wisewell was loft behind, being re- 
ported to be equal, in number of votes, to Visger. The answer was, that 'Visger is an older 
rosidenter than Wisewell." 

" Tni-nsDAY, ITtii. 

The old, virtuous Col. McKeo died at his seat on the river Thames, the day before yes- 
terday, after a short illness. His remains have been interred this afternoon with great ])omp 
at the seat of his son Tom, at Pelilte Cote. All the British Grandees attended, even Col. 
MaisonviUe. This event will probably damp the rejoicings of to-morrow evening, being 
the Queen's birth. A grand bal para is to bo at Mr. Roe's, over the river, and the bravo 
Tom was ono of the managers, with Jacques Baby. You must announce to the world, 
through the medium of the Cincinnati Gazette, this memorable death. Greit Brit liii hive 
lost a great support — the Indians a tender parent, and the United States the most iuvot- 
crate and unnatural enemy." 

" The Captains of the militia on the Eriti.sh .side were ordered to furnish five men jier each 
company to go immediately to Maiden, to help to picket and fortify tlMt garrison, IVofile 
seem a little alarmed on that side, and so are our own at the order of the Col Commandant, 
which was jiublished last Sunday at church, by Mr. Levadoti.x himself, that tlie burying 
ground lately allowed to Roman Catholics should not be pickctted, but only defended by a 
flying fence, &c. Capt Sedgwick tnid me this morning that orders are received to have this 
town pickelted anew; estimate of that ccpcnse is preparing, and it will amount to a pretty 
penny." 

Your mill* has been going a spidl, the water wheel got broke and was immediately repair- 
ed by .Munisli Labadi. Mcfsrs. Fillio & Menisli have chosen some bolting cloth at Mr. 
Mcintosh's, and the bolt is made and at work. Every attention is paid to your intercut. No 
news yet from Wittmorc Knaggs — llamtramck not yet arrived. 

FiiiDAV, ISrii. 

This day the British are celebrating in the house of Mr. Roc, the. Queen's birth-day. I 
can hear the noiso of the di-um, :us the wind blows from that shoro. All our otVicers except 
Col. Strong, Lukins, Tallman and Gray are tbci-i'. Ernest and bis wife, the SliiM-itf and his 
wife, Mrs. and Miss Podemead and Miss Sally Williams arc there, and alsj James Henry 
and Winston. 

SATiRnAV, IOtii. 

Your liiidy told me this morning that tlio dam of your mill was damaged near the trunk 
through which water is conveyed to the wheel. 



•Tliis wnsi probnWy the first wnter lloTir mill in the State, and the one crecteJ at Tantiac by Messrs 
Mack und Sibley the lint one la the iutvriur. 



SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. 63 

1812. 

Copy of an address which was drawn up by Judge May, and signed by the inhabitants 
residing at Detroit and yicinity, and presented to His Honor, Judge Woodward : 

To the Honorable Jlugiistits B. Woodward, one of the Judges of the Territory of Mich- 
igan: 

Sir : — Wo, the inhabitants residing in the vicinity of Detroit, beg leave to state : That we 
have learned with extreme regret, that in consequence of not receiving any answer to your 
despatches which had been forwarded to the General Government, (after waiting a reason- 
able time) you have signified your intention of shaping your course in a few days for the 
city of Washington. 

We are on this occasion particularly obliged to acknowledge and admire your patriotic 
and uniform conduct, since t!ie surrender (on the 16th August last,) of this Territory to 
Uis Majesty's arms, in interceding and protecting us suffering citizens and saving our lives 
and persons from tho victorious and insulting savage; in preserving the remnants of our 
property from pillage, and in aiding tho means of departing those who wished to go and 
find the standard of their country, and also for the spirit of humanity which you have 
displayed towards the surviving citizens of tho unhappy and terrible disaster which took 
place on the l.">th of August last in the vicinity of Chicago* — in procuring the means of 
preserving those unhappy survivors, from the distressing calamities which environed them, 
and for their restoration to their friends. We have seen with great satisfaction the good 
effects which has resulted from your respected efforts, and wo sincerely hope that the pains 
and interest you have taken in our behalf, may be crowned with success. 

From the just sense wo entertain of your goodness, we cannot reconcile it to our minds 
that you have any, the least wish or intention to emulate the example of others, who at tho 
hour of danger and at a time their services was most undoubtedly required, immediately 
abandoned their posts and flew to tho United States, leaving us to our fate, and owing 
entirely to the pains and exertions which you have taken on the occasion, we have happily 
escaped. Fully impressed from the situation of the country, of the necessity of your 
presence, the fond hope we entertain that ere long your despatches will bo answered and 
your conduct highly approved by the General Government, wo take tho liberty of solicit- 
uig as a particular favor, thct you will continue to remain and brave out the storm with us> 
or until the General Government shall judge proper to recall you from tho Territory. We 
further beg leave, with the deepest sense of gratitude, for the past exertions which you have 
numifested in our behalf and for tho tranquility which wo continue to enjoy, to offer you 
our warmest thanks. 

DEruoiT, Gth JanuaiT, 1813. 



* Tlie Massacre, by tlie Pottawotamie ladians, of tbirt3'-eight men, two women and twelve children, 
who that day had left and abandoned Fort Dearborn, and taken up their line of march for Fort Wayne 
under an escortof Pottawotamie Indians, who after promising to escort them to Fort Wayne and receiv- 
ing presents of all the Government property in tho Fort, proved treacherous and attacked the party 
within a mile and a half of the Fort, killing abuat two thirds of the party, when the remainder sur- 
rendered. The prisoners were divided among the different bands of Indians, who in time reached De- 
troit. The comiuaudant, Capt, Heald, and wife, were wounded, as also were Lieut, and Mrs. Ilelm. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

The City — its History, 3 

Detroit in 177H — Interesting Xarrative. G 

Dutioit iu 1.S05— Before the Fire, 8 

The Xew Town, 8 

Time's (Jlianges, 9 

Mayors, 12 

Pojjulation, l.'i 

I'ro]Hrty Valuation, 13 

Pulilio (iisburicuieuts, 1853-4, 14 

Liabilities, 14 

Hotels 1 ;'. 

Arcliitoeturo, lij 

Pulilic (iroundf, l(i 

Wiiltli of Avenues, 17 

Mercantile, 17 

Commerce in 18J4, 19 

Manufactories, 20 

Lumber, 20 

Wyandotte 21 

The Fish Trade of the Lakes, 21 

Lake Superior Trade, 23 

Lake Superior Copper, 23 

Mining, 24 

Frorluce of Copper, 25 

l/ike .Supcrio Iron 2(i 

Lake Superior Marble 2S 

Coal, 28 

Salt 30 

City Statistics, 1855 30 

Schools — Their Early History, 31 

Cuinmon Schools, 33 



PAGE 

Churches and Religious Societies, c)4 

Cemeteries, 36 

Waterworks 37 

New Ueservoir 39 

Comparative I'uritv of Water 4l 

Head of Water,..." 42 

fias Light, 42 

Pavements and Sewere, 43 

Flank Koads, 43 

The River, 43 

'J'he Climate, 44 

Elevations, 44 

Fires — The Firo Department, 44 

Youjig Men's Society, 4fi 

Mechanics' Society, 47 

Lake Navigation, 47 

Steamboats and Steamboat Routes, 48 

Railroads, 49 

Michigan Central Railroad, 50 

Di'troit and M ilwaukee Railway, 52 

Great Western Railway 54 

Detroit, Monroe and Toledo Railroad,.. 55 

Distances from Detroit, 55 

Conclusion, 56 

Arrr.Noix 

Detroit in 1760 57 

l7G(i-8, 58 

Letter from Cen. Gace. 1778 60 

Peter Andrain. 1 7'.I0, 62 

Address to Judge Woodward, is 12 63 



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